Athletes who participate in football or basketball are more likely to get ACL tears. This injury affects them because they make sudden stops, land awkwardly from jumps or receive blows to their knees. An ACL tear can cut short your career if you do not address it immediately. Fortunately, you can seek various treatment options for Oklahoma City ACL tear and resume playing.
At the hospital, you will realize there are several treatment options depending on how serious your ACL tear is. What are these treatments, you ask? Here they are below.
Ice Treatment
If your doctor determines your condition is mild, they will prescribe this treatment. This is something you can even do from home. All you need to do is place ice or a cold pack on your knee for 10-20 minutes. Do it every 1-2 hours for three days, and your swelling should reduce.
After the days elapse, you should avoid exposing the injured knee to heat. That means you should stay away from saunas, spas, and heat lamps. Hot substances cause vasodilation, which causes fresh swellings on your knee.
Pain Relief Medications
Doctors will prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Besides reducing pain, they reduce inflammation caused by ACL tears. Remember, long-term use of these drugs decreases bone formation, so your doctor will define how long to use them.
Besides NSAIDs, your doctor may prescribe acetaminophen. It is suitable for people experiencing pain and fever. Ensure you take this drug properly based on your doctor’s order, or else you may experience liver damage.
Device Therapy
Several devices can manage ACL tears, and the most popular one is the WasherCap. The beauty of this device is that it is minimally invasive and does not depend on bone quality. That means you do not need to worry about side effects like swelling, which you can expect from surgery.
Another device you can use is a cryotherapy freeze kit. The item is portable, so you can seek treatment for your condition anywhere. Besides managing your symptoms, you can use it to monitor your therapeutic temperature.
Physiotherapy
If your ACL tear is severe, physiotherapists will start you off with a heel slide exercise. This routine extends your knee without putting much pressure on it. Next, you may perform isometric quad contractions, which are great for reducing swellings.
Once your ACL tear is tolerable, you will do heel raises which you do while standing. Next, you will progress to knee extensions, which are even more intense for people without ACL tears. Despite their intensity, your motivation to get better should be your top priority.
Surgery
Surgeons can use two surgical methods for your condition: ACL reconstruction or arthroscopy. The former is highly recommended for people with multiple ligament injuries or athletes who want to continue their sport immediately. Before you do the surgery, you must have undergone thorough physiotherapy sessions.
On the other hand, arthroscopy is best for people with damaged cartilage, meniscus, and/or tendons. Before the procedure, your doctor will ask whether you take any blood thinners. Some of them increase your chances of bleeding during the procedure.
There are things athletes can do to minimize ACL tears. First, they should practice good technique while playing their game. If you do not know what that entails, your coach will guide you. Sometimes, your coach will work with a sports physical therapist to monitor your movements.
Some people do not know when to relax. Sometimes, you will see an athlete who continues to play despite being fatigued. Due to tiredness, such a person is likely to make mistakes that can lead to an ACL tear.
