ACL Physical Therapy in Idaho Falls

Have you ever experienced an injury that can change the course of your life in a matter of moments? Unfortunately, a lot of people have experienced this. Specifically ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament, injuries are among the most common. It doesn’t take much to cause this injury to happen, but the recovery is what truly takes a toll. Luckily, here at Pick PT in Idaho Falls, we can help you in your recovery and make your healing journey go more smoothly.

ACL Anatomy

Before looking into the injury itself, causes, symptoms, and treatments, it is important to know the anatomy behind it. The leg is made up of three main bones:

• Femur (thigh)
• Tibia (shin)
• Patella (kneecap)

These 3 bones are held together by surrounding ligaments, cartilage, and muscle that is attached. There are 4 main ligaments that support the knee, which are:

• PCL: Stands for the posterior cruciate ligament, which is located behind the knee and controls backward movement of the shin.
• ACL: Stands for the anterior cruciate ligament, which runs diagonally through the center of the knee and controls forward movement and rotation of the shin. 
• LCL: Stands for the lateral collateral ligament, located on the outside of the knee to support and stabilize the knee. 
• MCL: Stands for the medial collateral ligament, located on the inside of the knee for more stability.

An ACL injury occurs when that ligament gets damaged or torn, causing it to detach from the bone and lose stability in the knee. There are different grades of ACL tears depending on the severity of it. The ACL can range anywhere from a loose pull or a complete tear. A partial tear can cause mild issues but a full tear needs surgery to fully heal. 

Causes

The main risk and cause for experiencing an ACL injury is being involved in a high-intensity sport. Participating in these types of actions will make you more prone to hurting your ACL. 

• Jumping
• Pivoting
• Weight shifting
• Running

If you have an awkward landing or shift your leg while your foot is planted, it can cause the ACL to tear. Many men and women in specific sports such as basketball, football, soccer, and track experience this kind of injury at some point in their careers.

This is most common in athletes but can happen to anyone involved in a similar activity. If you participate in activities where your body is doing these certain actions, you are more prone to injuring your ACL, especially if you do not actively train or condition your body to have the strength and agility behind them. 

Symptoms

ACL injury symptoms can vary depending on the degree of the tear, but they are all very similar. The major difference in knowing whether it’s mild damage or a full tear is the pain level and range of motion you are experiencing. Common symptoms are:

• Lack of range of motion
• Inability to walk or put weight on the leg
• A loud popping sound that usually indicates the tear
• Almost immediate swelling

Since there are 4 main ligaments around the knee, it can be difficult to determine which one was damaged, especially when you are in shock from the pain. If you feel any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately and they will help you figure it out through a diagnosis. 

Diagnosis

When you go to the doctor after the injury occurs, they will start by getting a complete medical history of the injury.  After the initial shock goes down, you will more likely be able to pinpoint where exactly it is hurting. They will ask questions such as:

• What happened right before that caused it?
• What is the pain level you are experiencing?
• Where are you feeling the most pain?
• Have you experienced something similar before?

They want to get to know how you are feeling, what could have caused this, and the exact area that was injured. They will take all of this into account and conduct a further examination to know what to do moving forward. 

They will conduct a physical exam and then a diagnostic test. The physical exam will consist of pressing on certain areas, trying to move them in different ways, to see where the most pain and lack of movement is. Finally, they will take an X-ray or MRI to get a clearer picture of what exactly was injured. All of these together will help the doctor come up with the best plan moving forward to get you on the road to recovery. 

Treatments – What We Can Do at Pick PT in Idaho Falls 

After careful diagnosis, the doctor will come up with a treatment plan specifically for you. It will usually either be a nonsurgical option or surgery. If the injury is not damaged to the point of needing surgery, physical therapy is a great option. Whether you need physical therapy just on its own or post-surgery, we have you covered. 

At Pick PT in Idaho Falls, we can provide you with all your physical therapy needs. If you just need physical therapy on your ACL without surgery, we can:

• Design a customized plan to get you back on your feet in no time
• Work on one with you during exercises to make sure you are doing them correctly and don’t risk re-injury
• Do ice and elevation at the end of your session
• Give you instructions on what to do at home
• Educate you on how to maintain the strength and agility to prevent reinjury as much as possible

Post Surgery

If you experience the full extent of an ACL tear, then you will most likely need to undergo surgery, especially if you are looking to get back into competitive sports. The surgeon will either reconstruct or repair the original ACL, depending on the exact way it was hurt. After surgery, you will need to do physical therapy to regain all of the strength, muscle, and mobility that was lost. 

At Pick PT in Idaho Falls, you can work with one of our experienced physical therapists during your healing process. No one’s timeline is the same, as the way your body heals is unique to you. Our goal is to design an individualized plan for you and your specific goals coming out of it. We will help you:

• Learn how to use crutches and adjust to small lifestyle changes 
• Educate you on best practices 
• Work on specific exercises that align with your timeline and recovery goals
• With physical and emotional support during this hard process

At Pick Pt, you are our top priority and we want you to get back to your life. Contact us today to show your ACL injury who’s boss!