Anterior Cruciate Ligament Sprain (ACL Sprain)

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament otherwise more commonly referred to as the ACL is the ligament found in the centre of the knee. This important ligament of the knee controls the rotation of the knee and the forward movement of the tibia (also known as the shin bone).

This Anterior Cruciate Ligament has been reported to be the most commonly injured ligament in sport. Minor tears may not be noticed immediately but rather appear a few hours later with pain and swelling. More serious tears or ruptures of the ACL ligament are often accompanied by a popping sound. You may feel as though something has snapped or simply feel like your knee has given out.

Causes

The tearing or rupturing of this ligament often results from sudden twisting and turning of the knee. Changes in direction or over stretching the knee can also cause the ACL to tear. Pain and tenderness as well as swelling will accompany the ACL injury. The knee may feel unstable to walk upon and may lock during movement.

Treatment
Immediate treatment of the ACL injury include the application of cold or ice packs to the affected area, and elevation of the knee. Resting the injured knee and avoiding use of the knee is also important to healing. Light compression of the knee joint with the use of an elasticized support bandage may also be directed by your care giver.

Individuals with severely torn ligaments often require surgery as part of their healing process. More often though, individuals with mild or moderate tearing require physiotherapy. A common technique used in the treatment of ACL injuries by physiotherapists is ultrasound. Ultrasound is a healing technique that has been in existence around the world for many decades. Ultrasound reduces swelling and pain in the knee. At the same time it also increases the blood supply to the affected area stimulating tissues and increasing the rate of healing.

Not only does ultrasound aid in the duration of healing, but it helps to prevent long term complications. Scar tissue build up, pain, arthritis, and lack of mobility are some of the more common long term complications from an ACL injury. By speeding up the healing process with ultrasound, less scar tissue is formed, swelling and pain are reduced.

For those who suffer from some of these long term complications of existing ACL injuries, ultrasound can help. Ultrasound therapy can help to break up scar and fibrous tissue in the affected area. For those with chronic pain and inflammation ultrasound will help to reduce these and free the individual.

Prevention
To reduce the risk of injury to the knee regular exercise is an important component. Gradually increasing the intensity of exercise and being aware of the movement of the knee are key factors as well. Avoiding sudden movements such as twisting or overstretching of the joint will help keep the knee stable.

A Radiant Energy Kit is one of the most helpful tools for a wide varity of painful knee related injuries and conditions. Through the absorption of radiant energy, tissues are safely and gently heated - increasing blood flow within the treated area. Your body's natural response to this increased temperature is to try to maintain a condition of homeostasis - a balanced environment or state of equilibrium throughout the body. To do this, your body responds with a rapid increase in blood flow to the area (this is known as vasodilation), increasing the supply of nutrients to injured cells and flushing out toxins (including lactic acid, commonly found in trigger points) to promote healing. Our Thermotex Knee Pain Relief Device provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief with no side effects.

Our Cold Compression Wraps are recommended by countless medical professionals. That's why we sell them, because they are the best. We have noticed over time that our customers are so fond of our cold wraps that they are frequently coming back and ordering a second one. The wraps are becoming very popular with baseball and soccer trainers, and the wraps can be conveniently stored in a cooler for quick application on the field when needed.

Ultrasound therapy is also a helpful tool for pain prevention of knee injuires, and having a portable ultrasound device at home can be a powerful and convenient treatment tool. If you have symptoms or are recovering from a knee related injury, using ultrasound on a regular basis before your activity or throughout the day will help relax your muscles, tendons and tissues, diminish pain and inflammation, soften scar tissue and contribute greatly to the healing of your injury.

If you suffer from pain after certain activities or movements use ultrasound therapy when you complete the activity and then rest. Limit the application of ultrasound to a couple of treatments per day (the manual will recommend treatment frequency depending upon the injury). In between ultrasound treatments, maximize your pain relief and injury recovery by using the Thermotex Personal Therapy System. Proven Performance, Proven Relief - only found at MendMeShop.com. If you have been given a treatment plan by your health professional, make sure you adhere to it to ensure pain free living. In general, people who are committed to their therapies and exercises will have the best medical outcomes.