ACL Injuries: A Common Knee Problem

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a strong band of tissue connecting the femur to the tibia, and it plays a central role in stabilizing the knee. When it’s damaged or torn, it can cause significant pain, swelling, and instability.

• Common causes: ACL injuries are common in sports involving sudden direction changes, jumping, or pivoting — golf, pickleball, basketball, soccer, skiing. They can result from non-contact twisting injuries (most often landing from a jump or changing direction), direct blows to the knee, overuse, or anatomical predisposition.
• Symptoms: A sharp, sudden pain or popping sensation, swelling within a few hours, and a feeling of instability or “giving way,” especially during pivoting movements.
• Diagnosis: Typically a physical exam and detailed history; imaging such as an MRI may be needed to confirm the diagnosis and assess the extent of damage.
• Treatment: Depends on severity, age, activity level, and overall health.

• Non-surgical — often appropriate for younger patients or milder injuries: rest and immobilization, physical therapy, medication for pain and inflammation.
• Surgical — for more severe injuries or patients who need full knee function: reconstruction using a graft (often from the hamstring or patellar tendon), followed by a structured rehab period.

Prevention: Proper conditioning of the quadriceps and hamstrings, good technique in sport, thorough warm-up and cool-down, and appropriate protective equipment all help reduce risk.

If you think you may have an ACL injury, Dr. Grimsley can evaluate and treat it.