What causes ACL tears?
The ACL is a ligament that connects the femur to the tibia at the center of the knee joint. It helps stabilize the joint when planting the foot and changing directions (pivoting). This is one of the few ligaments in the body that don’t heal when they rupture.

ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament and is one of the major ligaments in the knee. ACL injury can be discovered by a popping sound or feeling and will be difficult to put weight on the leg. Some symptoms include swelling, pain, tenderness, imbalance, instability.

Causes for ACL injury includes: changing direction rapidly, suddenly stopping, landing incorrectly after jumping, football tackle, slowing down after running.

Is surgery necessary for an ACL tear?

Surgery depends on the severity of the ligament tear.

What is the prognosis?

There are 3 types or grades of ACL injuries to indicate the severity of the injury. Grade 1 indicates that the ligament has been slightly stretched but can still keep the knee joint balanced.

Grade 2 sprain is described as the ligament being so stretched that it becomes loose. This is called a partial tear to the ligament

Grade 3 sprain is the most severe and is a complete tear to the ligament that has split into two pieces and as a result, the knee joint has become unbalanced.