ACL Injury? Chiropractic Can Help!

Some of the most common knee injuries we see are ACL injuries, and they are probably the most well-known. Many think the anterior cruciate ligament injury is only for athletes, the truth is that these injuries can happen to you whether you're active or not. There are some measures you can take to prevent ACL injuries, and chiropractic can help!

Anatomy of the Knee

The knee joint is comprised of four bones - the patella, fibia, tibia, and femur. There are also tendons from muscles of the calf, shin, and thigh that attach into this joint. Two fibrous discs are inside the joint and they provide a congruent surface upon which the bones move. Four main ligaments help with joint stabilization. They are the posterior cruciate ligament, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), lateral collateral ligament, and the medial collateral ligament.

ACL Statistics

By preventing excessive forward movement of the thigh bone on the shine bone, the ACL assists in stabilizing the knee. It is estimated by the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine that roughly 150,000 ACL injuries are reported yearly in the United States. The same organization also estimates that these injuries cost up to $500 million annually! They are also more common in women than in men.

Causes of ACL Injuries

As we mentioned, ACL injuries are not limited to athletes only. They most commonly occur with these actions: 

• Stopping suddenly

• Quickly changing directions 

• Slowing down while running

• Landing awkwardly

• Forceful contact or direct collision

These actions are often encountered while playing sports, but you can imagine how they might happen in everyday life, too!

Chiropractic Care and ACL Injuries

Can chiropractic care help the overall healing process of an ACL injury? Well, you already know that chiropractic helps the nervous system to function optimally. The nervous system controls everything in your body, including how it heals. At a very basic level, yes, chirorpactic can help. How much it can help depends on the severity of the injury. For example, a chiropractic adjustment in the knee joint will help to restore the joint's motion and full function of the knee, which will speed up the healing process. That is particularly helpful with ACL sprains, which is when the ligament has been overstretched. When it comes to an injury like a torn ACL, chiropractic adjustments can still help during the healing process, but they won't recreate the connection of torn fibers.

If you're suffering from an ACL injury, it is well worth to contact us for a consultation. Though we can't reconnect a torn ligament, we can help restore proper knee function, motion, and healing.