Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is very common in Australia with rates increasing, particularly in adolescents and young adults. The ACL is an important knee ligament. It stops excessive movement of the knee during sporting activities such as twisting and pivoting. Unfortunately, whether you have undergone surgery or not, injury to the ACL can often mean an increased risk of further injury to the knee and other long term consequences such as accelerated risk of arthritis. This is particularly true if you don’t undertake any structured rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation following ACL injury/surgery is complex and should be individualised based on several factors. This includes:
- Age
- Gender
- Injury Mechanism (contact injury i.e. collision with a player or non-contact i.e. pivoting during football)
- Concurrent injuries (other structures injured along with the ACL)
- Type of surgery/reconstruction
- Injury history
- Patient’s goals
- Amongst many other factors (time commitments, baseline strength levels etc)
No two individuals are the same and no two ACL injuries are the same. Therefore, it’s important to note that simple, generic training programs may not be suitable for you. Rehabilitation should be targeted at addressing the specific deficits that may increase your risk of re-injury in the future. At Pro Health Care, we are lucky enough to have access to some of the world’s most experienced physiotherapists. These include those that have rehabilitated ACL injuries in the AFL, A-League and the English Premier League. We also have access to the latest technology that will help measure your progress along the way and can report all the results to your treating specialist or surgeon.
Sam Townsley, one of our Senior Physiotherapists, has recently returned from working in the English Premier League with Crystal Palace FC, and is currently the Head Physiotherapist of Adelaide United FC. He also worked at the world-renowned Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin, Ireland, specialising in ACL rehabilitation of elite athletes from around the world.
Pro Physio SA, Sam Townsley, Senior Physiotherapist