
What are the Ligaments?
Ligaments are a fibrous material that acts to attach one thing in your body to another, usually bone to bone. Ligaments are usually very rigid, and therefore will not stretch much. The knee joint is a very complex joint, which is made up many ligaments, four different bones and many muscles cross it. The four main ligaments that cross the joint provide a great deal of the joint’s stability. The Anterior Cruciate ligament travels from the posterior (back), and distal (lower) portion of the femur (thigh bone), and attaches to the anterior (front), and proximal (top) portion of the tibia (shin bone). This prevents the tibia from translating forwards with regard to the femur.
What caused my Ligament Tear?
Any action that puts more tension on the ligament than the ligament is designed to withstand is likely to cause ligament tears. The main four ligaments of the knee are very strong, so normal everyday activities are unlikely to cause a tear.
How can you help me with my Ligament Tear?
A detailed history, taken by your Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia Clinician, of the pain or injury can help to diagnose the injury, while a physical assessment of the knee, hip and surrounding structures, can determine the specific structure and the best course of action in treating the condition. Treatment will depend on the grade of the tear. For less severe tears, manual therapy and a graduate strengthening program will be needed to rehabilitate the knee. In some cases, the ligament may be completely ruptured (grade III), and surgery may be required to reattach the ligament. In a grade III tear, it is still important to attend physiotherapy before and after surgery in order to speed up rehabilitation and minimise the risk of long term disability.What should I do to avoid aggravating my Ligament Tear?
- AVOID activities that aggravate your pain (this may include walking, during the acute phase of your injury), until you have seen a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia Clinician.
- AVOID running or high impact activities, especially activities that require sudden stopping or changes of direction.
- REMAIN ACTIVE, while avoiding aggravating activities.
- For RELIEF, applying ice to the area may help to reduce some pain and inflammation. Be sure to wrap the icepack in a towel, and only apply for 10 minutes every 2 hours. CEASE use if you have any negative reaction.
- For RELIEF, apply a gentle compression bandage to the injured area, and elevate the leg to reduce swelling to the area. Be sure not to cut off circulation to the lower leg!
- RECEIVE physiotherapy care to get your joints, ligaments, and muscles de-loaded and moving freely with no restrictions.
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