Anyone who has been around sports has heard of the dreaded ACL tear. It ends a season and has a long road of recovery. Sudden stops, changes of direction, jumping, and landing can put too much force through the ligament, which leads to the ACL tearing. Symptoms include a popping sensation in the knee, severe pain and inability to continue activity, swelling, loss of range of motion, and a feeling of instability.
What Causes ACL Tears?
Tears happen from too much force acting on the ligament. This can come from slowing down too quickly, changing directions quickly, twisting the knee past its limit, awkwardly landing, or a direct blow to the knee.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Athletes are most at risk, because of both the stresses they put on their bodies and the conditions they play in. Poor preparation and faulty movement patterns further increase the risk, which is why athletes need to stay in shape and constantly work on perfecting their form.
How to Avoid Tearing
Proper training is a good way to prevent ACL tears. Strengthening the core — which includes the hips and pelvis along with the abdomen — helps prevent the knees from caving in during squats. Having balanced leg strength between the quads and hamstrings relieves excess pressure on the knees. Emphasizing good technique throughout all your training is important to prevent the faulty movement patterns that can lead to a tear.
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