ACL injury

How Does Physiotherapy Help?

Physiotherapy is helpful for restricted joint mobility and decreased muscle strength in the same areas, both before and during recovery from surgeries. A physiotherapist helps find solutions for discomfort caused by sedentary work and other musculoskeletal issues.

If possible, bring your test results with you. Exercises are easier to perform when wearing comfortable sportswear.

An ACL injury refers to a sprain or (partial) tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. This ligament forms a strong connection between the thighbone and the shinbone and plays an important role in maintaining knee joint stability. As a result of the injury, the normal biomechanics of the knee can be disrupted, leading to instability in the joint. It is a relatively common injury.

Symptoms

Pain and stiffness usually decrease during physical activity as the leg “warms up” and worsen when the leg cools down, being most noticeable in the morning after waking.

Causes

Risk Factors

Sport
Higher risk in sports involving rapid changes of direction, sudden stops, and jumps — for example, ball games, alpine skiing, and gymnastics.
Gender
Women have a higher risk of injury, most likely due to anatomical and hormonal differences.
Poor physical preparation/conditioning
Fatigue
Incorrect movement patterns/technique
The main risk factor is a valgus knee position at the moment of injury, influenced by fatigue, insufficient physical preparation, and gender — since women are more prone to valgus knee alignment.
Physical characteristics
Including flat feet, excess weight, tight or weak lower limb muscles, and limited mobility in lower limb joints.
Characteristics of other joint structures
Including the condition of the joint capsule, meniscus, and other knee ligaments.
Worn-out/narrow training shoes
Insufficient arch support and heel cushioning / constant pressure on the tendon.
Previous knee injury
Surface
For example, artificial turf fields, where the surface is harder and friction between the foot and the ground is greater.
Use of improper equipment/footwear

Note: An ACL injury is, in turn, a risk factor for developing post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Prevention

Preventive work should begin at an early age
Training of lower limb and core muscles through (sport)-specific exercises
Learning proper technique, with particular attention to correcting knee valgus alignment
Choosing the right footwear — shoes should fit well and be comfortable to wear
In addition to physical preparation, attention should also be given to psychological factors

Treatment includes both conservative and surgical approaches.
Surgery is commonly used in ACL injuries, but a conservative approach is also very important — especially since, in surgical cases, conservative rehabilitation should be carried out both before and after the operation.

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acl-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20350738

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5577417/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7092615/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432391/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723618/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7524809/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7793338/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6850459/

Clients

Feedback

“On olnud vägagi tõhusad füsioteraapiaseansid. Edasiviiv arutelu ja palju soovitusi harrastussportlase targemaks vigastustevabaks treenimiseks!”

“Katrel on põhjalikud teadmised jooksuvigastustest. Minu vigastust ja selle teket analüüsides, sain häid soovitusi nii varustuse vahetamiseks, taastavateks harjutusteks, kui ka jooksutrenni järgseteks harjutusteks, mis on taganud selle, et asfaldil ka pikamaid distantse joostes (sh võisteldes), pole valu enam tagasi tulnud.”

Olen käinud seal alates aastast 2021 ja vastuvõtt on alati meeldiv olnud. Kohtasin seal enda lemmikut füsioterapeuti Anastassia Šipilovat, kelle käed teevad (ja aju) imesid. Olgu mure tingitud ülekoormusest, vigastusest või lihtsalt ennetamine, she knows the magic.✨✨ Peale õlaoperatsiooni pani ta mu käe jälle liikuma ja olen tagasi ratta seljas. 🙂 Soovitan Füsioteraapia Kliinikut väga!

“Katre on väga suurte teadmistega ning füsioterapeudina äärmiselt toetav ja põhjalik. Mulle meeldib tema suhtumine, et sporditraumadest on võimalik taastuda ning saab ja tulebki sportimisega jätkata. Lisaks traumade füüsikalistele põhjustele “kontrollib” ta alati üle ka muud baasteemad – une, koormuse, taastumise, toitumise.”

Kõik väga meeldis alustades sisse tulemisest personaal oli väga lahke ja vastutulev. Mina isiklikult käisin Anastassia Šipilova juures millega jäin väga rahule, on näha, et Anastassia läheneb väga individuaalselt ja on enda ala proff.

Käisin visiidil nädala kestnud põlvevaluga. Katre tegi kohe põhjaliku ülevaatuse (testis mobiilsust ja potentsiaalseid vigastusi) ning diagnoosis potentsiaalse probleemi. Edasi tegime erinevaid harjutusi ja määrasime paika raviplaani. Harjutused filmis ta ka üles, et oleks hiljem hea järele vaadata ning saatis mulle koheselt ka videod. Lõpetuseks kinesioteipis ta põlve (lisaks juhendas, kuidas saan seda tulevikus ise teha) ja andis kaasa ka treeningupaela harjutuste tegemiseks. Väga põhjalik, professionaalne ja meeldiv kogemus!

Põlve meniskioperatsioonist taastumine füsioterapeudi Anastassia juures oli väga efektiivne, süstemaatiline, stressivaba ja viis stabiilse eduni. Anastassia optimism, teadmised ja isiksuseomadused ei anna edasi mitte ainult usku, et taastumine on täielik ja ilma jääkpiiranguteta, vaid ka tunnet, et see nii ongi. Soovitan Anastassia juurde kindlasti pöörduda, kui teil on vaja taastuda operatsioonist, vigastusest või lihtsalt nõu saamiseks, püüdes vältida negatiivseid muutusi igapäevaelus või sportides.

About Us

Füsioteraapia Kliinik OÜ is a company established in 2011, whose specialists are recognised Estonian sports physiotherapists.

The clinic’s specialists help find solutions to various musculoskeletal system problems, whether it’s pain limiting daily activities or sports, decreased muscle performance, restricted joint mobility, or other issues.

In practice, the most common reasons for consulting a physiotherapist are muscle tension, pain in the lower back and neck area, as well as painful shoulder and knee joints.