Am I likely to experience an ACL tear?

As I said earlier, these injuries most often occur in high impact or high speed sports where participants are required to pivot and change direction suddenly.  Less frequently, ACL injuries are seen in the workplace and in car accidents and other traumas.  Thus, if you are not involved in high impact or fast-moving sports you are less likely to suffer from such an injury.  Interestingly enough, women are significantly more susceptible to ACL injuries than men.  Click here to find out why.

What do I do if I suspect an ACL injury?

Go see a doctor immediately.  The doctor will be able to perform some tests which will be able to determine whether the ACL has been torn.  These tests include the following:

Lachman Test:

During this test the shin bone is pulled forward to determine the function of the ACL.  If the physician is able to pull the shin bone forward much more than normal, it is likely that the ACL has been torn.

Pivot Shift Maneuver:

This test is most easily performed on the operating table when the patient is anesthetized, and helps to determine abnormal movement of the knee, which would indicate a tear in the ACL.

X-Rays:

This method will be used to detect any fractures in the bones

MRI’s:

This test might be used to detect any cartilage or ligament damage, but is most often not necessary in determining an ACL tear.