People in Canada are more active than ever, largely due to increasing awareness around health. Participation in competitive sports has also increased in the past decade as a result.
But with thousands of people actively participating in sporting activities, instances of sports-related injuries have also increased significantly.
The most common injuries seen by emergency wards in Canadian hospitals are ACL tears. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a tiny piece of tissue that runs along the inside of the knee and provides rotational stability to the knee joint.
ACL Tear Treatment Options
When someone suffers an ACL tear, there are two options for treatments. In minor cases, the ligament is encouraged to heal itself using physiotherapy and bracing. However, in case of severe ruptures, reconstruction is recommended to replace the damaged tendon with a new one.
ACL surgery offers better knee stability and a higher chance of complete recovery. It also ensures a quick return to regular activities by restoring the person’s complete range of motion.
ACL Reconstruction Recovery and Risks
Recovery from an ACL reconstruction greatly depends on certain key factors. These include:
- The type of treatment
- The quality of treatment
- The musculoskeletal structure of the patient
- Any other health concerns the patient has, including vitamin deficiencies and previous medical conditions
With the advancement of modern medicine, most ACL reconstruction patients can resume normal activities within six months of the surgery. However, there are still certain health risks.
The first and foremost is delayed or incorrect reconstruction. ACL reconstruction should be done as soon as possible—before the body starts healing itself the wrong way.
Another factor that is concerning is that the risk of arthritis increases in patients that have undergone ACL reconstruction.
How Physiotherapy Helps
Getting regular physical therapy during the recovery and rehabilitation periods is highly recommended after ACL reconstruction surgery. The hands-on techniques used by sports therapists promote quick tissue healing, while restoring normal movement patterns.
Post-surgery muscular atrophy is also quite common. Physiotherapy helps keep the muscles active and prevents them from becoming atrophied. The targeted exercising also helps strengthen the knee muscles while decreasing the risk of arthritis in the future.
Professional sports therapists also recommend muscle-strengthening exercises specifically designed for people with ACL injuries to help them return to the previous level of function quickly and safely.
Contact our professional sports therapists in the Greater Toronto Area!
Sports & Exercise Medicine Institute offers professional diagnoses and innovative treatments for sports-related injuries such as ACL tears. Being one of the top sports medicine and physiotherapy clinics in the Greater Toronto Area, our experienced team of physiotherapists and sports medicine specialists offers injury recovery and rehabilitation programs to help athletes recover from the impact of their injuries.
Our services include sports massage therapy, physiotherapy, foot pain podiatry, shockwave therapy, PRP injections, custom knee braces, pelvic health physiotherapy, and neck and shoulder pain treatments.
Contact us now to schedule an appointment!
