ACL tears can negatively impact the way you experience your daily routine, your movements, and your fitness life. While it’s more common among athletes, it can also happen because of an unexpected fall or sudden twist. If you’re experiencing knee pain from an acute injury, don’t hesitate to visit a specialist and find out if you’re suffering from an ACL tear in New Jersey.
Our offices are located in Westfield and West Orange, New Jersey, and serve all of Union county, Morris county, Middlesex county, and Somerset county including the surrounding towns of Cranford, Garwood, Clark, Scotch Plains, Mountainside, Springfield, Summit, Chatham, Millburn, Short Hills, Maplewood, Watchung, Berkeley Heights, Livingston, Union, Edison, Woodbridge, and Elizabeth. If you suspect that you have a concussion, don’t hesitate to call Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine or request an appointment online today.
For appointments, call us or book online at any of our convenient locations in Middletown, Morristown, Ridgewood, Westfield, and West Orange.
What Is an ACL Tear?
ACL tears occur when the anterior cruciate ligament gets significantly injured. This might happen because of a sudden joint movement, such as changing direction, stopping, or jumping. Despite being more common when playing sports, it can happen at any moment if you put your knee joint under enough stress.
Before diving deeper into what an ACL tear is, let’s understand the knee ligaments and their roles. Your knee is able to bend mainly thanks to four ligaments that attach the ends of the bones in the joint to each other. Inside the knee we find two cruciate ligaments: posterior (PCL, at the back), and anterior (ACL, at the front).
Because of its location, the ACL is the most likely to get injured when receiving certain amounts of strain. ACL injuries can range from mild, grade 1 damage, to grade 3, where the ligament is torn in two or completely separated from the bone. The severity of your injury will determine the type of treatment you must have. However, none can heal 100% by themselves. That’s why it is so relevant to seek medical care if you think you might have one.
What Causes ACL Tears?
ACL tears usually happen because of sudden movements that twist or bend the knee in an unnatural way. The most frequent are:
- Changing direction, slowing down, or stopping suddenly when running
- Poor landing technique when jumping
- Direct or indirect impacts from sport tackles or falls
While not as common, they can also occur because of repetitive stress on the ligament over time.
Right after a tear, you can expect:
- A popping sound around the knee
- Knee instability
- Swelling and tenderness
- Problems when walking
After a day or two, these symptoms might start to fade, making you think that you are healing. However, this is often not the case. In order to prevent further tissue damage, you should visit an orthopaedic specialist and either diagnose or rule out an ACL tear.
ACL Tear Treatment in New Jersey
When you get to your consultation at Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine, your provider will conduct a physical exam and probably order some imaging tests. Once they know how severe the injury is, you can both discuss the degree of function you need in the future, possible treatments and expectations.
Severe Tears and Complete Function Restore in New Jersey
If you need a fully functioning knee because you play sports or have a physically demanding job, for example, surgery will be the best option for you. During an ACL reconstruction, your surgeon must rebuild the ligament using a graft that’s either taken from another part of your body or from a donor.
Recovery can take about six to nine months post-surgery, but with the right care, you should be able to restore your strength and mobility.
Milder Tears and Basic Functionality in New Jersey
If you had a slight tear or live a quieter kind of life, typically, a less invasive treatment will be enough. Your orthopaedic specialist will create a tailored strategy that combines physical therapy, joint injections, proper rest, and the use of a knee brace. All of this will help you strengthen your muscles and connective tissues, reduce pain, and heal the ligament.
Get Your ACL Back to Health at Our New Jersey Orthopaedic Practice
At Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine, we are committed to providing comprehensive care for patients suffering from an ACL tear or any other kind of sports injury. We offer the latest techniques and options for addressing your orthopedic concerns in any of our five New Jersey locations.
Our expert team is here to help you find the most effective treatment plan to restore your mobility and improve your quality of life. If you are worried you might have torn your ACL, don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation.
