ACL injury - Symptoms and causes (2024)

FAQs

ACL injury - Symptoms and causes? ›

The most common mechanism is that of a sudden pivoting or cutting maneuver during sporting activity, which is commonly seen in football, basketball and soccer. The ligament can also tear due to work injuries or automobile accidents. At the time of the injury, a “pop” or “snap” can sometimes be felt or heard.

The most common mechanism is that of a sudden pivoting or cutting maneuver during sporting activity, which is commonly seen in football, basketball and soccer. The ligament can also tear due to work injuries or automobile accidents. At the time of the injury, a “pop” or “snap” can sometimes be felt or heard.

What are the symptoms of an ACL tear? Common symptoms of a torn ACL include a popping sound at the time of injury, knee pain, swelling and knee instability.

Chances are you have an ACL tear if you heard a loud pop in your knee when you were injured, followed by swelling, pain, and knee instability. Symptoms of an ACL Tear: Severe pain. Rapid swelling.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may occur from coming to a quick stop with a directional change while running, pivoting, landing, or overextending the joint in either direction. The ligaments which attach the upper leg bone (femur) to the large lower leg bone (tibia) create a hinge joint called the knee.

With ACL tears, walking is possible but can be painful. The patient should be able to walk in a straight line but will be unable to make sudden turns or pivot. A knee brace can help stabilize the knee, but with ACL tears, surgery is almost always required.

If you're able to put pressure on your hurt leg, you may notice that it's harder than normal to walk. Some people find that the knee joint feels looser than it should. Less range of motion. After you damage your ACL, it's very likely that you won't be able to bend and flex your knee like you normally would.

It can be easy to confuse the two injuries, as both a torn ACL and a torn MCL exhibits similar symptoms, including: swelling, inflammation, extreme pain and possible bruising. The main difference between an ACL tear and an MCL tear is that an ACL tear will have a distinctive popping sound, while an MCL tear will not.

ACL tears are often associated with a popping sound, immediate swelling, and a feeling of instability. MCL tears commonly cause knee pain and tenderness along the inner side of the knee. Meniscus tears may produce a popping sensation, locking or catching of the knee, and difficulty straightening the leg.

Symptoms of an ACL injury

You could experience grinding feelings of your bones or kneecap. Another sign is not being able to put weight on your leg. People with a mild ACL injury might feel like their knee is unstable, or like it might “give out” when they are using it.

How can I check myself for a torn ACL? ›

A torn ACL can't heal on its own, but it's possible to live with it (especially if you have a low-grade tear). But if you're an athlete or want to return to physical activity, you'll need surgery to repair your ACL. Most people choose to have an ACL tear surgically repaired.

An injury to your anterior cruciate ligament is usually accompanied by a "popping" noise and a feeling that your knee gives out from under you. Other signs and symptoms of an ACL injury include: Pain on the outside and back of the knee.

The most noticeable MCL tear symptom is pain on the inside of your knee directly over the ligament. You may also hear and feel a “popping” sensation in your knee at the time of injury. Other common symptoms include bruising, knee instability, swelling, and the inability to hold your weight.

Sports injuries are the most common causes of ACL tears, however, the ACL can be injured during any trauma, such as during a car accident, falling off a ladder, or missing a step on a staircase.

History: One of the most common knee injuries is an ACL sprain or tear. Typically, injury occurs during activity/sports participation that involves sudden changes in the direction of movement, abrupt stopping or slowing down while running, or jumping and abnormal landing.

Know the Risk Factors

Anatomy: Women generally have wider hips compared to men and are often more knocked-kneed, which means their knees tend to tilt inward. This alignment alters the knee joint, increasing the risk of ACL injuries during movements such as jumping, pivoting and landing.

The ACL connects the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia). It's most commonly torn during sports that involve sudden stops and changes in direction — such as basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball.

Engaging in certain sports or activities significantly increases the risk of ACL tears. Sports involving sudden changes in direction, deceleration, or landing from jumps, such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, skiing, and football, pose a higher risk.