The most common serious knee injury that occurs to athletes is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament rupture. This occurs principally to athletes undertaking pivoting or change of direction sports. A sudden onset of pain (often rated 8-9 out of 10) (sometimes with a “popping” sensation) with a rotation or collision is then followed by some relief when he athlete makes the sideline. Later that night the knee swells increasing the pain. Diagnosis is made by clinical examination which the practitioners at SPARC are experts in. It is important that you are seen by a sporting doctor as in many cases other knee injuries, apart from an ACL rupture, are the cause with early intervention and exercise assisting an expediated recovery. In many acute knee injuries MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is used to assist. Treatment of an ACL injury is generally surgical in nature with sport recovery time being 6-12 months. The practitioners at SPARC only refer to surgeons who are experts in treating ACL injuries.
Our weekend service during the football playing season can assist you in the diagnosis of your acute knee injury.
A schematic knee picture of a ruptured ACL is found here.
A MRI of a ruptured ACL is demonstrated here.
An inside of the knee during surgery is demonstrated here.