What is an ACL Injury?
Your anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is an important ligament in your knee because it connects the patella (top portion of the knee) to the tibia (bottom portion of the knee) and gives the knee rotational stability. An ACL injury is one of the most common injuries in sports, and based on statistics, female athletes are 2 to 10 times more likely to suffer from an ACL injury than male athletes. Injuries usually occur from quick movements made by the athlete such as pivoting, cutting, or jumping and landing the wrong way. If you have recently suffered an ACL injury and are looking for Physical Therapy in East Northport, let our team at Island Sports Physical Therapy get you back in the game!
Why are Women More Likely to Suffer an ACL Injury?
While there is no definitive reason why women are more likely to tear their ACL’s than men, there are a few factors that can contribute to this injury. They are:
- Hormones: The estrogen hormone that exists in women can be a potential cause of their ACL tears. High levels of this hormone in the body weaken the ACL, making it more prone to injury.
- Bone Structure: Women are born with wider hips than men so that they have the ability to carry and birth a child. This skeletal structure results in more weight being put on a woman’s knees than a man’s, which can lead to them putting a lot of strain on the surrounding ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
- Muscle Strength: As we mature, women seem to have weaker leg muscles than men do. These muscles include the glutes, buttox, hamstring, and quads. For this reason, it is important that women work on strengthening these muscles in an effort to take the strain off their knees and prevent an ACL injury from occurring.
What Exercises Can I Do to Prevent an ACL Injury?
As mentioned before, the muscles you want to focus on are your glutes, buttons, hamstring, and quads to prevent an ACL injury. Here are some exercises that can be very helpful:
- Squats
- Deadlift
- Swiss Leg Curl
- Glute Bridge
If you are looking for physical therapy in East Northport, let our physical therapists at Island Sports create a personalized program that will focus on strengthening leg muscles as well as improving the flexibility of your knee. Visit our office today!
Recovering from ACL surgery
An ACL tear happens when the knee experiences sudden twists or changes in direction. People who play high-impact sports are especially susceptible to ACL tears. These sports include but are not limited to soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, etc. When an ACL is torn, there is typically a popping sound, swelling, and pain.
ACL surgery typically features a graft that involves taking a ligament from another part of the body to replace the torn ACL. Recovery from an ACL tear can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. The help of a physical therapist is crucial to the success of your recovery. Island Sports Physical Therapy has offices all over Long Island in East Northport, Huntington, Nesconset, Coram, East Meadow and Glen Cove. They specialize in sports specific therapy and are more than capable of helping you return to playing soccer after ACL surgery.
ACL surgery recovery features:
- Right after the surgery, you should immobilize your knee to aid the healing process.
- After surgery, you should use ice to reduce swelling of the knee.
- Gradually placing weight on the knee with or without the aid of a knee brace or crutches.
- Your physical therapist will then help you achieve full range of motion with the recovering knee.
- Muscle strengthening exercises will be incorporated into your recovery to help regain strength lost during the immobilization phase.
- The later stages of recovery involve advanced strengthening techniques, advanced cardio exercises, and balance/stability exercises to strengthen the new ACL.
Even though a physical therapist is crucial to your ACL tear recovery, misinterpreting their advice or pushing yourself too fast can do more harm than good. In fact, it can make your recovery longer as well as lead to additional surgeries.
Contact us!
If you’ve had ACL surgery and wish to have a speedy recovery to be able to return to soccer contact one of Island Sports Physical Therapy’s Long Island offices today!
ACL Recovery
Are you in the process of recovering from an ACL injury? If yes, it is essential to understand the length of time that it takes for your ACL to redevelop. In the meantime, consider choosing physical therapy to help your ACL heal quicker.
Prior to setting up an appointment with a physical therapist, communicate with your doctor to determine specific recovery goals. These targets should include treating symptoms and helping your knee return to a comfortable, strong, and functioning position. Granting it may take a few months to return to activities, it is vital to assist your ACL by selecting helpful methods along the journey of recuperating.
After speaking with your doctor, it is likely that they will recommend physical therapy. By working with a physical therapist weekly, they will help you learn exercises that will support and stretch your muscles and tissues around the knee joint. Consequently, on your off days, be sure to stay off your affected leg. If necessary, wear a brace or use crutches.
Island Sports Physical Therapy
On the subject of physical therapy, Island Sports PT located in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties is available to provide comprehensive evaluations, individualized treatment, and personal attention. During your session with us, we will help you improve your knee range of motion and strength. While at the same time, we can assist you in special tests to determine areas and ligaments that need improvement. For instance, we may focus on pain control, swelling management, balance exercises, and various treatments specific to your ACL injury. For sports-related ACL injuries, choose PT to help create a smooth transition into playing a game again. As Huntington physical therapists, we take pride in our work and want our injured athletes to return to their competition.
Our team combines competence, compassion, and hard work to help each individual achieve their rehabilitative goals. It is our belief that the patients deserve education along with their treatment. Overall, our hope is that our patients don’t just recover, but to prevent future re-injuries and obtain the maximum performance possible. For more information please contact (631) 462- 9595. We look forward to hearing from you!