ACL & PCL Ligament Injury Braces

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ACL Knee Braces Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are common knee injuries among athletes, especially women. And because the wear and tear of aging weakens the ligaments of the knee, an ACL tear is also not uncommon when one over the age of 40 falls. The ACL is two bundles of connective tissues inside the knee joint. The ligament connects the back of the femur, or thigh bone, to the front of the tibia, or shin bone. It is one of the four main ligaments responsible for stabilizing the knee. More specifically, it is responsible for controlling how far the shin bone can extend relative to the thigh bone. The ACL can be partially or completely torn in a number of ways, with many of these involving non-contact motions. Sudden changes of direction or abrupt deceleration are often the causal factors for an ACL tear. ACL Tear Treatment Unfortunately, this area of the knee does not receive much blood flow necessary for the body to naturally heal an ACL tear. Thus, surgery to reconstruct the ligament is most often the method of treatment for an ACL tear , especially for athletes who need to continue to be able to pivot, cut and the like. You can engage in physical therapy to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee to somewhat compensate for an absent or weakened ACL, but not repairing the ACL tear significantly ups the odds the knee will be injured again, not to mention it excludes the affected individual from engaging in at-risk athletic activities. Surgery involves reconstructing the ACL ligament using tissues from other areas of one’s body (the patella tendon or hamstring) or from a tissue bank. After the surgery begins the real recovery process; one must undergo extensive rehabilitative exercises, stretches and such to return the knee to its pre-injury condition. This process typically takes the better part of a year. Torn ACL Brace For proper recovery after an ACL tear , immediately following the surgery one must wear an ACL post-op brace and use crutc