Stay in the game: ACL injury prevention

ACL injuries are one of the scariest and most feared injuries. While most common among athletes, anyone can tear their ACL. That’s why prevention is key.

The ACL refers to the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. The ligament is crucial for stability and helps to prevent the shin bone from sliding out in front of the thigh bone. It is typically damaged by over-stretching or tearing. 

How does an ACL injury happen?

“We often see ACL injuries in people who play basketball, soccer, football or go skiing,” says Dr. Jeremy Loescher, a sports medicine physician at Advocate Health Care. “These injuries can also occur outside of sports with non-contact pivoting motions of the knee.” 

Typically, an ACL injury occurs when you: 

• Get hit forcefully on the side of the knee  
• Overextend your knee joint 
• Quickly change direction while running, landing from a jump, or turning or pivoting sharply 

“It’s not uncommon for people to have other injuries when they injure their ACL,” says Dr. Loescher. “Often, an ACL tear occurs alongside medial collateral ligament (MCL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) or meniscus injuries. If you experience a ‘pop’ sensation with immediate swelling of your knee, it is imperative to seek evaluation from a sports medicine or orthopedic specialist.” 

How to prevent ACL injuries 

ACL injuries require a lot of intensive recovery time. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help strengthen your knee and hopefully prevent this serious injury from happening: 

• Prioritize proper technique when exercising or playing sports
• Before working out, make sure you do warm-up exercises along with stretching 
• Add in jumping and landing drills to strengthen your knees and reduce injury 
• Strengthen your hips and thighs 

“A lot of ACL injury prevention requires patience and taking care of your body,” says Dr. Loescher. “We’re all in a hurry and are very busy, which means we often neglect a routine home exercise program to help maintain strength and prevent future injury.” 

Do you have knee pain? Take a free online quiz to learn more or find an orthopedic specialist near you: IL or WI.