ACL
The ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament is found at the center of the knee; thus serving as the crucial central point for motion and activity in the human body. The ACL connects the tibia or shin to the femur or thigh bone. Any tear or injury inflicted on this ligament can impair the ability to run, exercise, or participate in sports that require quick “cutting” or “pivoting” movements, such as soccer, basketball, football, and many other sports with similar physical activity.
Nonsurgical treatments for ACL issues can include bracing, physical therapy, and PRP (PRP or Platelet-Rich Plasma is a treatment method that involves therapeutic injections to combat the effects of osteoarthritis pain). PRP injections consist of blood-based growth factors taken straight from the patient’s blood plasma and applied to an injured area–causing new tissues to formulate and thus both alleviate inflammation in the tissue and promote the additional formation of tissue.
When the knee remains unstable because of a complete ACL tear, reconstruction of this ligament can be carried out using arthroscopic surgical methods.