An ACL Tear is a condition when you damage the anterior cruciate ligament in your knee. This ligament is one of the several ligaments in your knee. It connects your thigh bone, known as the femur, to your shin bone, called the tibia. Each knee has one ACL. The ACL & the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) cross inside your knee in an "X" shape. The ACL runs toward the front part of the knee, while the PCL sits toward the back. Your ACL works like a strap to link your bones and keeps your knee from twisting or bending beyond what it should. When too much force bends or twists the knee past its normal range, it can harm or tear the ACL.

What are the Symptoms of ACL Tears? The commonest signs of an ACL tear include:

• Hearing or feeling a pop in the knee
• Swelling
• Pain when trying to stand or walk
• Weakness in the knee joint
• Struggling to move the knee or losing normal knee movement
• Instability or buckling of knee

What are the Causes of ACL tears? Some of the main reasons for ACL tears include:

• Injuries from sports
• Accidents involving motor vechicles
• Tripping or falling

Factors that increase ACL tear risk: Anyone can tear their ACL, but it happens a lot more to athletes. Some of these sports are:

• Soccer
• Football
• Basketball
• Gymnastics

How Do Doctors Diagnose an ACL Tear? Doctors diagnose ACL tears by using a physical exam along with certain tests. They will ask various questions about your symptoms and examine your knee. Share with them what activity you were doing when the injury happened and when you first started feeling symptoms. Your doctor might also move your leg or knee in specific ways. Be sure to tell your doctor if something hurts or makes the pain worse.

They will use at least one type of imaging test to confirm the injury, including X-rays and MRI more frequently.

What is the treatment of ACL Tears? Treatment depends on the severity of your ACL tear and if your knee has other injuries. Avoid sports or anything that could strain your knee more. Start using the RICE method as soon as you feel pain or notice symptoms.

• Rest: Stop doing the activity that caused the injury. Let your knee recover without putting too much stress on it.
• Ice: Apply an ice pack in a thin towel or a cold compress and press it on your knee for 15 minutes a few times a day.
• Compression: Wrap your affected knee with an elastic bandage. This can help bring down swelling.
• Elevation: Keep your knee raised above your heart level whenever you can to ease discomfort.

In some cases, you might require additional care:

• Crutches to help you move around.
• A knee brace to keep your injured knee stable.
• Pain relievers like acetaminophen or over-the-counter options such as NSAIDs.
• Physical therapy to strengthen your knee and improve movement. Sometimes, the surgeon uses a method called knee arthroscopy. It is a simple way to fix the tear in your knee with fewer cuts.

Prevention Most ACL injuries happen because of unexpected accidents or sports-related incidents that you can’t predict. While playing sports or doing physical activities:

• Use the right safety gear.
• Stop and rest if your knee feels painful during or after exercise or sports.
• Allow your body enough time to rest and heal after tough workouts or games.
• Do stretches and warm-ups before starting sports or exercise.
• Stretch and cool down after being active.
• Keep these tips in mind to lower the chances of getting injured:
• Do not place your foot down and twist over your knee.
• Keep your home and work area tidy to prevent tripping hazards for yourself or others.
• Use the right tools to grab items out of reach. Avoid climbing on chairs, tables, or counters.
• Rely on a cane or walker if walking is hard or if you might fall.