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How Physical Therapy Helps After an ACL Tear

Greenville, United States - December 4, 2023 / Movement Solutions Physical Therapy Greenville /

The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is one of the four critical ligaments in the knee. It makes the knee stable during movement and helps prevent it from twisting too far in the wrong direction. This ligament can get torn or strained during physical exercise and cause severe knee pain. In most cases, ACL injuries occur during activities that involve jumping, sudden starting and stopping, or swiftly changing direction. Without the ACL intact, you lose knee stability, affecting your ability to enjoy competitive sports or physical activities.

Luckily, ACL injury physical therapy in Greenville, SC, can help treat your torn ACL and offer much-needed relief. At Movement Solutions Physical Therapy, we’re not only committed to helping you recover from your ACL injury but also to helping you keep further injuries from occurring in the future. Our physical therapist will perform numerous tests to assess your injury risk and determine whether or not you’re at risk for a non-contact injury.

Based on the examination results, we’ll formulate a specialized treatment plan that best meets your needs. Your treatment program may include a combination of methods, including ice and heat therapies, manual therapy, targeted exercises, or ultrasound, all aimed at helping you get back to doing the activities you love within no time.

Signs of ACL Injury

When your ACL tears, you may hear a loud pop and feel like your knee has given way. Other symptoms include:

Knee swelling within a few hours after the injury

Limited knee movement due to swelling or pain

Discomfort when walking

Loss of range of motion

Pain on the back of the knee

How Physical Therapy Benefits You After an ACL Injury

Physical Therapy Effectively Treats Injuries and Helps You Avoid ACL Injuries in the Future

At Movement Solutions Physical Therapy, we boast a team of seasoned physical therapists who will identify factors contributing to your ACL injury that you may not have even considered. Some of these factors include motor control impairment, restrictions on your range of motion, or a weak core. Once we address these factors, your risk of ACL injury considerably decreases.

Treatment Programs Are Customized to Each Patient

At Movement Solutions, we understand that no two patients are the same. For this reason, we first get to understand what’s happening to your body and its impact on your life, and then create a customized treatment plan based on your type of ACL injury, underlying conditions, stage of recovery, and your personal goals. For instance, during your initial recovery stages, we’ll focus your treatment on pain relief, inflammation reduction, and tissue healing. Once the knee pain gets alleviated and inflammation is no longer present, you’ll move on to the next phase of your treatment program, which focuses on restoring your strength, endurance, and balance and activating your nervous system.

Physical Therapy Improves Quadriceps Contraction

When an ACL tears, the quadriceps muscle on top of the thigh almost shuts off and stops functioning correctly. Physical therapy after a knee injury helps restore normal quadriceps control. We may use electrical stimulation to achieve this goal or prescribe quadriceps strengthening exercises, such as straight leg raises.

Visit Movement Solutions in Greenville, SC, for ACL Injury Treatment

If you have recently torn your ACL, Movement Solutions can help. Contact us today, and we’ll get you started on your path toward recovery and much-required relief with physical therapy in Greenville, SC.