An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprain occurs
when excessive force tears or ruptures the ligament
. The ACL helps to control forward and backward movement, and rotation of the knee joint. When fibers of a ligament are torn, it is known as a sprain.
How long does it take to heal a sprained ACL?
Many grade 1 and 2 knee sprains heal within
two to four weeks
. People who need surgery, however, may take as long as four to six months to recover. About 80 to 90 percent of people with ACL injuries and 80 percent of those with PCL injuries will experience a full recovery. MCL and LCL sprains tend to heal quite well.
What does sprained ACL mean?
An ACL sprain is
when the ACL is overstretched (but not torn)
. ACL Injury Grades. The severity of the ACL injury is graded from 1 to 3. Grade 1: The ligament is intact, and the joint is stable, but there is minimal stretching and some microscopic tearing of the ACL. Surgery is typically not needed.
Can you walk with a sprained ACL?
The short answer is
yes
. After the pain and swelling subsides and if there is no other injury to your knee, you may be able to walk in straight lines, go up and down stairs and even potentially jog in a straight line. The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is an important ligament that provides stability to the knee.
How do you tell if ACL is torn or sprained?
- A loud pop or a “popping” sensation in the knee.
- Severe pain and inability to continue activity.
- Rapid swelling.
- Loss of range of motion.
- A feeling of instability or “giving way” with weight bearing.
Can an ACL sprain heal itself?
The ACL cannot heal on its own because there is no blood supply to this ligament
. Surgery is usually required for athletes because the ACL is needed in order to safely perform the sharp movements that are required in sports.
How do you fix a sprained ACL?
- Rest. General rest is necessary for healing and limits weight bearing on your knee.
- Ice. When you’re awake, try to ice your knee at least every two hours for 20 minutes at a time.
- Compression. Wrap an elastic bandage or compression wrap around your knee.
- Elevation.
Can a sprained ACL get worse?
While some symptoms occur immediately after injuring the ACL, such as swelling and tenderness, others may appear or get worse in the days following the injury, such as
bruising
.
Do you need surgery for a sprained ACL?
ACL injuries can either be complete or partial. While
complete ACL tears almost always require surgery
, partial ACL tears may be treated effectively with nonsurgical methods. ACL tears are graded by severity and are called sprains (a sprain is a stretch or tear in a ligament).
How bad does a sprained ACL hurt?
When the ACL is torn and the signature loud “pop” is heard, intense pain follows and, within an hour, swelling occurs. Moderate-to-severe pain is very common. Initially, the pain is sharp and then becomes more of an
ache
or throbbing sensation as the knee swells.
Can U bend your knee with a torn ACL?
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
.
Where is ACL pain located?
You will likely feel pain in
the center of your knee
during an ACL tear. Because the MCL is located on the side of your knee, the pain and swelling will be located on the inside of the knee structure rather than the middle.
What helps ligaments heal faster?
What helps injured ligaments heal faster? Injured ligaments heal faster
when treated in a way to promote good blood flow
. This includes short-term use of icing, heat, proper movement, increased hydration, and several sports medicine technologies like NormaTec Recovery and the Graston technique.
What happens if ACL injury is not treated?
If left untreated, a small ACL tear
will increase in size
, causing more pain and increasing the laxity in the knee. Without a properly functioning ACL, the other structures of the knee experience greater strain, which causes further injuries to tissues in the knee.
Can you tear ACL without knowing?
Please note: In some instances, you
may not experience any swelling or severe pain
when you tear your ACL. We’ve had patients come in with discomfort, not realizing it was an actual tear because they didn’t experience any of these common symptoms.
What is worse ACL or MCL?
The limitations vary depending on which ligament was injured. However, while both cause a lot of discomfort, technically speaking,
an ACL tear could be considered as worse
, since it may require surgery to fully heal. On the other hand, a minor MCL tear can heal on its own.
