An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)Tear is a knee injury involving the anterior cruciate ligament, one of the key stabilizers that keep your knee joint steady during movement. Found deep within the knee, this ligament is crucial for sudden direction changes or pivoting, making ACL tears particularly common among athletes, runners, and those who engage in sports such as football and basketball. The injury not only affects mobility in the short term but, if left untreated or poorly rehabilitated, can increase the risk of early-onset osteoarthritis and long-term instability.
What Causes an ACL Tear?
ACL tears are caused by high-load stress during twisting, pivoting, or sudden deceleration. Common scenarios include abrupt stops in sports, awkward landings after a jump, or direct collisions to the knee. Sports like soccer, rugby, basketball and football are particularly high-risk. Women face a higher incidence due to differences in biomechanics, ligament laxity and muscle strength ratios. Importantly, a history of previous ligament injury can also make the ACL more vulnerable, making appropriate and timely treatment crucial for long-term knee health.
Symptoms of an ACL Tear
The typical ACL tear symptoms include several signs, such as hearing or feeling a loud pop at the moment of injury, followed quickly by intense knee pain and swelling within hours. Another way on how to identify an ACL tear is if the knee often feels unstable – as if it might give way – and weight-bearing becomes difficult. In more severe cases, additional damage to the meniscus or collateral ligaments may occur, compounding instability and discomfort.
Diagnosing an ACL Tear
If you are wondering how to diagnose an ACL tear, it’s best to leave it to a trained professional. Clinicians typically begin with a physical examination to assess joint laxity. Imaging, particularly an MRI, provides confirmation, revealing the extent of the tear and any associated injuries, such as meniscus tears. MRIs can help differentiate between partial tears, partially torn ACLs, and complete tears, which is important because the severity of the injury determines treatment decisions and prognosis. Accurate diagnosis not only guides treatment but also prevents further joint damage by ensuring timely intervention.
Treatment Options
Treatment options depend on the severity of the injury, your age and activity level. For partial tears or less active individuals, conservative treatment for ACL tears can be an effective option. This may involve physiotherapy to restore strength and balance, coupled with bracing to protect the knee.
For complete ruptures, ACL tear surgery recovery time varies, but reconstruction is often recommended to restore full function.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Partial ACL Tears
For less severe partial ACL tears, non-surgical care, including physical therapy and adjunct modalities such as Shockwave Therapy and INDIBA® Activ, can help restore knee stability without the need for surgery.
A physiotherapist will design a targeted program to strengthen surrounding muscles, improve balance, and retrain movement patterns. Supportive bracing or sleeves may be used during activity, along with activity modification to avoid stress on the joint.
Advanced modalities such as Shockwave Therapy can stimulate tissue repair, while INDIBA promotes circulation and reduces inflammation to accelerate healing. With the right rehabilitation plan and professional guidance, many patients can regain full function and return to daily activities safely, if they are patient and diligently follow their recovery regimen.
Surgical Treatment Options
When ACL tears are complete or when partial tears result in persistent instability, surgical treatment may be necessary to restore full knee function and prevent further injury. ACL reconstruction surgery is the most common procedure, involving the replacement of the torn ligament with a graft, often sourced from the patellar tendon or hamstring tendon.
Depending on the extent of the injury and the patient’s needs, the procedure can be performed using minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques or through an open approach. Following surgery, a comprehensive rehabilitation program led by a physical therapist is crucial for regaining strength, mobility and functional ability in the knee.
Surgical treatment is especially recommended for competitive athletes or individuals with high activity demands, as it offers the best chance for a full recovery and a return to pre-injury performance levels.
ACL Reconstruction and Recovery
ACL reconstruction is generally performed arthroscopically, meaning smaller incisions and quicker initial healing. Post-surgery, the ACL tear recovery time typically ranges from 6 to 12 months, depending on the demands of the sport and the rate of healing progress. In the early phase of rehabilitation, patients often experience a reduced range of motion, which is a key focus of initial rehabilitation.
How To Prevent ACL Tears
Targeted ACL tear prevention programs focus on neuromuscular training, plyometrics and sport-specific drills that improve landing mechanics and reduce harmful knee loading. Technique training for proper jumping, landing and pivoting is essential, as it helps reduce stress on the ligament and plays a vital role in injury prevention. Strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings, hips, and core adds stability, while ensuring proper footwear and being mindful of surface conditions can further lower risk.
Rehabilitation and Return to Activity
Rehabilitation after an ACL injury, whether following a surgical or conservative approach, progresses through distinct phases. The early phase focuses on controlling swelling, promoting gentle mobility and activating muscles. As healing progresses, strengthening and balance work takes priority, leading to agility and sport-specific training.
Patient compliance is crucial for ACL tear rehabilitation. Pushing too quickly can set back recovery, while going too slowly may delay a return to normal activities. Adjunctive modalities, such as INDIBA, can accelerate tissue healing and reduce inflammation, while Shockwave Therapy can address stubborn soft tissue tightness that limits mobility.
Long-Term Knee Health
A torn ACL, particularly in younger or more athletic individuals, is associated with a higher likelihood of developing arthritis and other long-term knee complications in the years following the injury. While most people recover well with appropriate care, an ACL tear can increase the risk of osteoarthritis, especially if accompanied by cartilage damage. Long-term knee health relies on maintaining strength, mobility and proper movement patterns. Regular physiotherapy check-ins, even years after injury, can help identify weaknesses or asymmetries before they lead to problems.
Take the Next Step to Recovery
An ACL tear is a significant injury, but with prompt diagnosis, tailored treatment and a well-structured rehabilitation program, you can regain full function and return to sport or daily life. Physiotherapy for ACL tears not only restores strength and mobility but also helps reduce the risk of reinjury. Top physiotherapy clinics like HelloPhysio integrate evidence-based rehabilitation with advanced technologies, such as INDIBA and Shockwave Therapy, to optimize outcomes for ACL tears in Singapore.
If you suspect you have an ACL injury or are recovering from one, seeking expert care promptly is crucial. Contact HelloPhysio today to book a consultation and start your journey toward a stronger, more stable knee.