Doctor K: PT is one solution to torn ACL

DEAR DOCTOR K: I tore my ACL. Is surgery inevitable?

DEAR READER: The anterior cruciate ligament is a band of tissue that runs through the middle of the knee joint and keeps the shinbone from sliding forward past the thighbone. The ACL can tear during a sudden or awkward twist, turn or stop. More often than not, it’s these non-contact injuries that injure an ACL. Between 100,000 and 200,000 ACL injuries occur each year in the United States.

Women are more vulnerable to ACL injuries than men, but it’s not clear why. The anatomy of a woman’s knee is different from a man’s. When a woman pivots or stops suddenly while running, her knee is bent more inward than a man’s. This puts more strain on the ACL.

Obesity and weakness of the hamstring muscles in the back of the thigh also appear to be associated with ACL injury.

For elite athletes, the treatment is fairly clear: reconstructive surgery to replace the ACL, plus intense physical therapy. The sports that most often are associated with ACL injuries are skiing, football and gymnastics.

I’m assuming that, like most of us, you’re a recreational athlete. If so, the answer is often different. If your ACL is only partially torn, then forgoing surgery in favor of rehabilitation through physical therapy is worth considering. Surgery could still be an option down the road.

Physical therapy can strengthen the muscles around your knee enough so they compensate for the non-working ACL. A knee brace could protect your ACL during an occasional tennis or soccer game.

Without surgery, you should recover enough to be active again within two or three months. That’s compared with about six months for surgery patients. On the flip side, surgery will make your joint more stable than physical therapy rehab alone.

You and your doctor will need to carefully consider the extent of your injury, your age, your activities and other factors when determining the best treatment for your ACL injury. Whether you have surgical or non-surgical treatment, studies have found that after the recovery period, you’ll be much improved.