Sports injury refers to injury or physical damage that occurs as a result of sports or other physical activities. Sports injuries can affect various parts of the body, including muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Some common types of sports injuries involve specific parts of the body, such as knee injuries, shoulder injuries, or hamstring injuries.
One of the most common sports injuries experienced by athletes is Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury. This injury occurs in sports that involve zig-zag movements, changes in direction of movement, and sudden changes in speed such as football, basketball, volleyball and futsal. ACL injuries generally occur when athletes perform rotations, flips, or sudden stops. ACL injuries can also occur due to direct trauma to the knee with force coming from the side.
The ACL is a ligament found in the knee joint and functions as a stabilizer to prevent excessive forward shift of the tibia bone towards the stable femur bone, or vice versa. Any injury that occurs to the ACL has the potential to cause stability problems in the knee joint.
Signs and symptoms of ACL injury :
- Pain in the knee that appears quickly after injury.
- Swelling of the knee that occurs within hours of the injury.
- The knee feels unstable which makes it difficult to walk or support body weight.
- There is a loud noise when the injury occurs
How to prevent ACL injury :
- Warm up and stretch: Warming up and stretching before exercise can help increase blood flow to your muscles and joints, as well as relax your body muscles so you can move more freely.
- Strengthen your core muscles: Strengthening your core muscles, such as your abdominal and hip muscles, can help reduce stress on your knees.
- Increase leg muscle strength: Doing exercises to strengthen leg muscles, such as hamstring exercises, can help improve overall leg muscle balance.
- Avoid movements that put stress on the knees: Avoid movements that put stress on the knees, such as sudden turning movements or sudden stops when running.
- Use proper protective equipment: Use proper protective equipment, such as knee pads, when exercising
How to deal with ACL injuries:
- Initial Treatment:
- Application of Ice: Applying an ice pack to the injured area can help reduce swelling and pain. Ice packs can be applied for 15-20 minutes every few hours.
- Elevation: Supporting the injured knee with pillows and elevating the leg can help reduce swelling. - Consultation with a Medical Professional:
- Doctor Consultation: If an ACL injury is suspected, immediately consult a doctor for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
- Imaging examination: The doctor may refer for imaging examinations such as MRI to check the severity of the injury and see other damage. - Pain and Swelling Management:
- Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce pain and inflammation. However, the use of medication must be in accordance with the doctor's instructions.
- Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy professionals can design a special exercise program to strengthen the muscles around the knee and improve joint stability. - Rehabilitation:
- Rehabilitation Exercise Program: Targeted rehabilitation exercises can help improve muscle strength and balance, strengthen supporting structures, and increase flexibility.
- Balance and Proprioception Exercises: Balance and proprioception exercises can help improve movement control and prevent re-injury. - Use of Aids and Supports:
- Knee Support: Using a knee support or brace can provide additional support during physical activity and help prevent movements that could worsen the injury. - Surgical Intervention (If Necessary):
- ACL Reconstruction Surgery: In some cases, especially those involving severe ACL injuries, surgical intervention may be necessary to reconstruct the damaged ligament.
Article written by dr. Arrio Yusman, Sp.OT (K) Sports Injury (Specialist in Orthopedics & Traumatology, Sports Injury Consultant at EMC Pekayon Hospital).