Anatomy
Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located in the middle of the knee joint, connecting the shin bone (tibia) to the thigh bone (femur). It crosses over diagonally with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) to control the backward and forward movement of the knee at the joint. It is one of four strong stabilising ligaments of the knee, along with the PCL and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. The ACL works to stop the tibia from sliding forwards in front of the femur.What causes an ACL injury?
- Direct trauma/impact such as from tackles
- Quickly changing direction
- Sudden stops, especially during fast-paced activity
- Improper landing from jumps
- Overextending the knee
What are the symptoms?
Depending on the severity of your injury, symptoms may include:- Feeling unstable, like your knee is giving out from under you
- A ‘popping’ sound on impact/injury
- Pain and tenderness in the knee, especially on walking
- Swelling
- Limited movement in the joint