Who is most likely to get an ACL tear?

According to research, an ACL tear is one acute injury that female athletes are two to eight times more likely to experience than males. The ACL, a ligament in the knee that connects the femur to the tibia, is extraordinarily strong, yet has little elasticity, Dr. Gardner says.

Why are some people more likely to get an ACL tear?

Athletes who play soccer, football, tennis, basketball, gymnastics or volleyball are more likely to tear their ACL. Basketball and volleyball players are more at risk from an ACL tear incurred by landing awkwardly from a jump. And football players often injure their ACL during a low tackle below their waist.

What sport is ACL most common?

Nationally, athletes are most likely to injure their ACL playing soccer than any other sport. “Soccer players cannot predictably plant their foot because they're getting jostled by an opponent while turning for the ball. A mis-planted foot can lead to an ACL tear,” says Dr.

What age are you most likely to tear your ACL?

Age. ACL tears are most common between the ages of 15 and 45, mostly due to the more active lifestyle and higher participation in sports.

How common is an ACL tear?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important stabilizing ligament of the knee that is frequently injured by athletes and trauma victims. There are between 100,000 and 200,000 ACL ruptures per year in the United States alone [1-3].

How likely is it to tear the ACL in the other knee after ACL surgery?

Will you ever be the same after an ACL tear?

Thirty years ago, an ACL injury was career-ending, but today, thanks to arthroscopy and refined surgical techniques, most athletes are able to return to sports. Happily, the answer to the above question is most likely a yes – but with qualifications. Are teams' injury crises down to bad luck or bad management?

How can you prevent tearing your ACL?

Is tearing an ACL worse than a broken leg?

Broken Bones Heal Better Than Ligaments and Tendon

The short answer is because the bone has plenty of blood supply to it compared to ligament/tendon, which has very little and ligament/tendons are more complex to rebuild. Wounds generally heal more slowly if blood can't circulate properly.

Are there signs before ACL tear?

A loud pop or a "popping" sensation in the knee. Severe pain and inability to continue activity. Rapid swelling. Loss of range of motion.

Can tearing your ACL be genetic?

The overall heritability of ACL rupture was high, 69% (95% CI 47 to 91), increasing from 60% at age 17 years to 80% at age 60 years. Women and men had similar familial risk and heritability of ACL rupture. Conclusion: The genetic contribution to ACL rupture of ~69% is high and suggests strong familial clustering.

Are ACL injuries rare?

ACL tears are a very common knee injury. In the United States there are between 100,000 and 200,000 incidents every year. They're common in athletes, especially those who do start-stop, sudden change in direction sports like football, basketball, soccer and volleyball.

What sport has the highest ACL injuries?

ACL injury typically occurs during athletics where jumping, pivoting and rapid change of direction occurs. Football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and skiing are some sports known to have high ACL injury rates.

What percent of high school athletes tear their ACL?

Percentage of ACL injuries requiring surgery by sport:

Boys' basketball: 85 percent. Softball: 80 percent. Girls' basketball: 70 percent.

Is the ACL easy to tear?

The ACL is particularly vulnerable to injury during athletic activity or as the result of impact, and a torn ACL is a common injury in athletes of all levels. It is especially common in sports with a lot of leg planting, cutting and pivoting, such as soccer, basketball, skiing and football.

How easily can you tear your ACL?

An ACL injury can occur if you: Get hit very hard on the side of your knee, such as during a football tackle. Overextending your knee joint. Quickly stop moving and change direction while running, landing from a jump, or turning.

What makes an ACL tear worse?

If you continue to use your knee after an ACL injury, you only make the problem worse. You fuel ongoing inflammation, the ligament continues to weaken, and a partial tear is likely to turn into a complete rupture. The ACL ligament takes a long time to heal even when you seek early treatment.

Will an xray show a torn ACL?

X-rays will not show the ACL injury but will show if the injury involves any fractures. An MRI scan provides images of soft tissues such as torn ligaments. Usually, an MRI is not required for a torn ACL diagnosis. Treatment for an ACL tear varies from immobilization to surgery.

Can you bend your knee with a torn ACL?

If you're able to put pressure on your hurt leg, you may notice that it's harder than normal to walk. Some people find that the knee joint feels looser than it should. Less range of motion. After you damage your ACL, it's very likely that you won't be able to bend and flex your knee like you normally would.

How long is ACL recovery?

Within the first few weeks after surgery, you should strive to regain a range of motion equal to that of your opposite knee. Recovery generally takes about nine months. It may take eight to 12 months or more before athletes can return to their sports.

What's the most painful knee injury?

One of the most feared sports and work injuries is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which has ended or derailed the careers of numerous high-profile athletes. A torn ACL is very painful and can debilitate a person for several months and perhaps for life, although recovery for some is possible.

What is the most painful tendon to tear?

One of the most painful injuries of the feet and ankles is a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is thick and long. On one end, it attaches to your heel bone; on the other end, the tendon is embedded in your calf muscle.

What is the most serious knee injury?

Kneecap fractures are a common yet serious injury that usually requires immobilization or in some cases surgery to correct. Knee dislocations occur when the knee bones become out of place. This can occur after a major trauma such as a fall, car crash, or high-speed impact.

Do braces prevent ACL tears?

Some studies suggest that braces can reduce the strain on the ACL during certain movements, which may mean they can prevent ACL tears.

Does lifting weights prevent ACL tears?

There are ways to train that can help prevent non-contact ACL injuries during your sports season. Hands down the best exercises to help prevent ACL tears is Olympic weightlifting. Every pull strengthens your glutes and hamstrings, every time you stand up from the lift, you are strengthening your quads.

Do squats prevent ACL injuries?

Having adequate strength in your hips and thighs is key to providing support for your knees and preventing ACL injuries. Squats and lunges are just a couple of exercises that can build strength. Make sure to use good technique.