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.
Injury to the ACL is a common knee injury, and often occurs alongside injury to other knee structures, such as the cartilage and the Collateral Ligaments. The different levels of severity of injury include a ligament sprain, a partial tear, or a complete rupture. ACL injuries are often sustained by athletes involved in high-impact sports that involve sudden changes in direction, such as basketball or soccer. ACL injuries are more common in females, which may be attributed to by muscle strength, control and conditioning. Typically, ACL injuries are caused by:
Depending on the severity of your injury, symptoms may include:
When the injury first occurs, it’s important to stop physical activity and avoid walking on the affected knee where possible. Following the PRICE principles (protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation) can help reduce the initial pain and swelling. If you have had a rupture or significant tear to your ACL, you may require surgery. It’s important that you have a diagnosis to confirm the extent of your injury, which may involve having an ultrasound, x-ray or MRI imaging. Your podiatrist can help you gradually rebuild the strength in your knee and surrounding muscles, and improve the range of motion in the joint, which will likely be restricted following your injury. Your podiatrist will make recommendations based on the cause of your injury to both help your recovery and reduce the risk of re-injury in the future. This may look at the use of Orthotics to control motion at the feet and legs, assessing the stability of your Footwear, teaching you how to strap your knee or recommending a Brace, and physical therapy.
Summer is fast approaching which means it’s time to whip out the sandals and open-toed shoes! Usually along with this seasonal change, we see an influx of particular issues and concerns flooding into our clinic. Today we thought we’d talk about a big one of these – bunions! What is a bunion and how does […]
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Ingrown toenails can be massively frustrating – and not to mention very painful! They stop you from wearing shoes, partaking in sports and activities you enjoy and every step is a constant uncomfortable reminder that they’re still there! So what does an ingrown toenail mean? An ingrown toenail means that the nail edge has grown […]
If you wake up dreading putting your feet on the ground and taking those first few steps because of an intense pain in your heels, then it sounds like you could have Plantar Fasciitis. Don’t worry! While this condition can be extremely limiting and painful, you’re in the perfect place as heel pain is […]
– Heel pain in kids during sport – what’s causing it? – If your child is getting heel pain during sport – this is for you! – What’s causing your kids heel pain during sport? If you’re a parent of a healthy and active child, you’ll know their frustration and disappointment when developing pain in […]
If you’re not currently wearing orthotics then it’s likely you know someone who is. But what do they do for your feet and can they really help you? Our experts at Perform Podiatry answer your questions! So, what are orthotics? Orthotics are ‘inserts’ or ‘inner soles’ that go into your shoes. However, they are so […]
There’s nothing better than watching our kids growing bigger and stronger every day – and it seems to happen in the blink of an eye! As they grow and change, their feet do too. Bones get bigger, muscles and tendons lengthen and strengthen, the feet and legs function optimally as one stable unit, foot posture […]
Keeping your family on their feet and helping them to walk, run, play and exceed their goals is why we love getting up in the morning.
Ground Floor, One Health Building
122 Remuera Rd, Remuera
Auckland 1050, New Zealand
| MON - FRI | 7:30am – 6:30pm |
| SAT | 8:30am – 4:30pm |
| SUN | Some availability |
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