Old ACL injury
- Related Injuries: Knees
January 11, 2014
Sarah Porter asked The Guru for the following Physiotherapy Advice:
Dear Guru,
Please can you advise,
Old left ACL injury 1997 no surgery just intensive physio & a sports knee brace. Worn for netball & skiing no problems. Stopped wearing brace for last 3 yrs(approx). March 2012 pain & swelling during netball saw physio,told have loose lateral ligament,have excercises to improve. Old knee brace falling apart, need a new one that supports ACL & LCL & knecap. I play netball to a high standard so need it mainly for that, also ski regularly so needs to support skiing also. Can you give me some options?, netball season stars soon.
Thanks Sarah
Sarah
January 11, 2014
Hi Sarah
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ACLs and their repair rates used to fall into basic 1/3rd’s. 1/3 doesn’t need a repair, 1/3 does and the final 1/3 didn’t know they had a ACL rupture.
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I think today it’s more about whether or not you have rotatory control and what you’d like to do with it. CTI braces (custom or not) have got the market nailed on ACL braces, but if you havn’t got the control then no matter how much you brace, something somewhere will fail.
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With the season almost upon you your choices become more pin point. First up, get an opinion – surgical or not, you need the twisting (rotatory) component assessed and checked. If this is toast and you want to play on, then I think the vast majority of your answers will be answered there and then.
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If you’ve got some control then it may be simply looking at your plyometric control, rotatory strength and endurance and flexibility above and below your knee.
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Either way, act now and see someone [sports physios] who can. The longer you leave it the worse it may become.
