We, the specialists at ApexaQLA, have already accompanied numerous people on the road to recovery after a cruciate ligament tear. Don't panic - we're here to help you!
In our blog, we as experts would like to take a closer look at the topic of cruciate ligaments and cruciate ligament tears. If you have any questions or would like to know more, we are always available to help. Together we will find the best paths for your recovery!
What is a cruciate ligament?
Our knee joints are fascinating, but also quite complex. You can bend, stretch and even rotate slightly. They play a crucial role in movement and power transmission. In every healthy knee joint there are two cruciate ligaments - one anterior and one posterior. These ligaments stabilize the knee joint, align the joint surfaces and prevent hyperextension of the lower leg.
How does a cruciate ligament tear occur?
A cruciate ligament tear often occurs as a sports injury. Cracks can occur, especially when playing football, skiing or other sports with quick changes of direction and abrupt stops.
Football: Approximately 30-50% of cruciate ligament injuries occur in this sport.
Basketball: Around 20-30% of injuries affect basketball players.
Alpine skiing: In winter sports such as alpine skiing, the risk is around 15-20%.
It is important to note that the incidence of ACL injuries depends on various factors, including training level, technique, gender and individual genetics. Some studies have shown that women are at higher risk of ACL injuries than men, particularly in football and basketball.
Symptoms of a cruciate ligament tear
A cruciate ligament tear is usually accompanied by severe pain. Sometimes you feel a "crack" in the joint, the knee swells quickly, and there are restrictions in movement and a feeling of instability under strain.
Diagnosis and treatment
Experienced specialists can make a presumptive diagnosis based on the mechanism of the accident and the symptoms. Tests and an MRI scan confirmed the cruciate ligament tear. Whether surgery is necessary depends on your individual case. New studies show that conservative therapy with movement restriction and physiotherapy can also achieve good results.
Healing of the cruciate ligament
Surprisingly, some studies show that people with anterior cruciate ligament tears can achieve good results with conservative therapy. A relatively large number of spontaneous healings have even been proven. Long-term studies are still missing to confirm the long-term resilience of these spontaneous healings. The decision for or against an operation should always be made individually.
Physiotherapy for cruciate ligament tears
Our evidence-based physiotherapy at ApexaQLA is based on proven “back-to-sports concepts”. We want to get you back to your everyday life and sport as quickly and well as possible. Our physiotherapy includes different phases, from pain reduction to mobilization exercises to sport-specific training.
Therapy phases for cruciate ligament tears
Phase | Description |
Acute phase | Pain reduction - swelling reduction - easy mobilization to improve extension and flexion - gait training |
Mobilization phase | Mobilization exercises for the knee joint - adapted structure in the strength training area - balance and coordination training |
Intensive phase | Intensified endurance and strength training - sport-specific training - increasing coordination exercises, running school and jumping development |
Return phase | Preparation for the return to sport - training for sport-specific loads - maximum strength training - final "back-to-sports tests |
Duration of therapy
The duration of therapy varies depending on the individual healing process. For surgical interventions, therapy usually lasts 6 to 12 months. With conservative therapy, consisting of physiotherapy and movement restriction, the duration can be similar.
At ApexaQLA we pursue three central goals in cruciate ligament rehabilitation to ensure that you return to your everyday life and your sporting activities in the best possible way:
Fast pain reduction and mobility: Our focus is on effectively relieving pain and gradually improving the mobility of your knee. Through targeted measures, we will help you to carry out your daily activities without restrictions.
Active stabilization and muscle building: We rely on a holistic approach that aims at active stabilization and muscle building. Through targeted exercises, we strengthen the muscles around the knee to promote the stability of your joint and prevent relapses.
Return to the highest sporting level: Our ultimate goal is to ensure that you not only reach your previous performance level, but ideally even increase it. We will accompany you through a structured training program tailored to the requirements of your sport and prepare you for a full return to sport.
If you have any questions or would like further information, we are of course available at any time. We look forward to supporting you on your path to successful rehabilitation!
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