Video game for ACL tears - Research summary

  • Posted: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Monday, March 19, 2012 11:23 a.m.
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WHAT IS YOUR ACL? The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of the four major knee ligaments. The ACL is critical to knee stability. It prevents excessive motion of the knee joint.

ACL INJURIES: According to the Mayo Clinic, injuries to the ACL are among the most common of all sports-related knee injuries. Up to 200,000 people sustain a ruptured or torn ACL in the United States each year. The ACL becomes torn when it's stretched beyond its normal range of elasticity. Most often, ACL tears occur when pivoting or landing from a jump. The knee gives out from under the athlete when the ACL is torn. Wearing cleats during aggressive cutting or pivoting activities may increase the risk of ACL injuries. The injury generally occurs during exercise or sports. Women suffer from ACL injuries more than men do. The exact reason is unclear, but some suspect it may be due to differences in anatomy, hormones or strength.

DIAGNOSING AN ACL INJURY: Doctors will typically diagnose an ACL tear by asking about how the injury occurred, examining a patient's knee and possibly conducting an MRI scan. Some common tests doctors may use during an exam include the Lachman test, where patients lie on their backs with their knees bent at a 30-degree angle. The doctor gently moves their lower leg forward at the knee. If their leg moves freely without reaching a firm endpoint, they've torn their ACL. Another test, known as the pivot shift test, involves extending the knee and rotating a patient's foot inward while applying pressure to the outside of the knee and slowly bending it. The doctor is checking for signs of instability indicated by a shifting of the shinbone or the thighbone.

TREATMENT OPTIONS: ACL tears do not always require surgery. There are several important factors to consider before undergoing surgery. If you don't participate in sports that require a functional ACL, and you don't have an unstable knee, experts say you may not need surgery. There is also some debate about how to treat a partial ACL tear. Some believe if the ACL is not completely torn, surgery may not be necessary. Typical surgery for an ACL tear involves reconstruction using another tendon or ligament to substitute for the torn ligament. Risks include infection, persistent instability and pain, stiffness and difficulty returning to your previous level of activity.