Knee Stretches

A torn ACL may become swollen, and will certainly be painful. There may also be instbaility of the knee. The knee is a fragile and complicated joint and an MRI may be required to determine if there are any other injuries to the ligaments of cartilage.
There are two main courses of treatment for the damaged ACL and each patient should decide along with their doctor which course is right for them. ACL tears do not necessarily require surgery. There are several important factors to consider before undergoing ACL surgery. First, do you regularly perform activities that normally require a functional ACL? Second, do you experience knee instability? If you don't do sports that require an ACL, and you don't have an unstable knee, then you may not need ACL surgery.

A partial tear can often be treated without the need for surgery although each case should be considered on an individual basis.

Patients for whom non surgical treatment is prescribed should start to fell better within a few weeks, although problems with instability may cause problems in the future.
Surgery for an ACL Tear
During surgery, repaining a torn ACL is not usually possible and so surgeons must use other ligaments and tendons to reconstruct the ligament. In 90% of cases surgery is successful although there is a chance of continued pain and a decrease in activity level.

After any ACL injury it is important that patients work to restore the strength and flexibility of their knee. This can help to recover full use and also to lessen the chances of a repeat injury. Knee braces and band can play a vital role in the rehabilitation of a knee and should be used as a physical therepy aid.

In 2004, I tore my MCL while skiing, but through knee stretches and other strengthening exercises outlined on my blog, I won a gold medal for a rowing marathon. I've also competed in an ultramarathon that was 155-miles long and took place in the Sahara Desert.