ACL Problem?
- Related Injuries: Knees, Quads & Hamstrings
January 11, 2014
Sam asked The Guru for the following Physiotherapy Advice:
I snapped an ACL in my knee two years ago, had surgery and have since returned to sport. Apart from the odd niggle the knee has been rock solid.
However, last weekend I had crippling pain right inside the knee when I ran, and since my knee has been painful when walking up and down stairs. There is a small amount of swearing around the knee but it doesn’t feel warm. It doesn’t hurt to walk or go down into a squat position but it makes a crackling noise when I squat. Siting is fine, but I think regular flexing of the knee causes a tensing. I have been stretching a lot since and using a foam roller on the IT band. Do you have any suggestions as to what it is?
Sam
January 11, 2014
Hi Sam
Thankfully rupturing ACL is pretty painless and so I’m not convinced that you’ve done anything to your graft.
I’d expect more swelling and maybe some giving way.
I’d also imagine that rolling your ITB helps a little.
I think you’ve got an issue with the tracking of your kneecap on the front of your femur. Which can be pretty common place post ACL as gaining rotatory control (even at 2 years) can proove to be tricky.
Go and see a Physio – get your patella mobilised and maybe taped. It should make stairs much, much better. You’ll need to work on your gluts and control the amount your knee rolls in – to prevent your kneecap rolling out, and becoming painful.
