Anterior Cruciate Ligament Strain (ACL Strain)

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.

Never use Ultrasound over an area injected with a steroid (ie. cortisone) for at least 30 days.

Never use Ultrasound after surgery until your physician recommends and approves of it.

Therapeutic Products

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy

You can help your body repair itself by speeding its natural healing process using an Inferno Wrap™. The Inferno Wrap's patented design delivers the most effective Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy you can find.

During normal activities, the movement promotes blood flow through our body. Our body responds to the movement by sending oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the muscles, joints, tendons and other soft tissue in the body.

When at rest, the blood flow to your tendons is greatly reduced. Unfortunately, when your tendon is injured it requires rest but it also needs the blood flow to promote the healing process. Since you can't work your tendon without danger of further injury, you need to stimulate the blood flow another way.

Our innovative Inferno Wrap™ gives you the best Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy available. The Inferno Wrap™ creates energy waves that stimulate blood flow by penetrating through the outer layers of your body. The energy waves reach deep into your muscles, tendons and cartilage, reducing your pain as they heal the inner tissue.

An Inferno Wrap™ gives you unparalleled blood flow stimulation to your injured tendon. You simply won't find a comparable product on the market. Other therapy products can not come close to offering the comfortable, contoured fit and targeted energy treatment an Inferno Wrap™ provides.

You will experience a soothing, penetrating warmth deep in the tissue as it works to stimulate your blood flow, we guarantee it. Now you can reduce your pain and heal yourself with the comfortable, light weight Inferno Wrap™.

The Inferno Wrap™ provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief with no side effects.

When your tendon has healed somewhat and it comes time for more aggressive rehabilitation, stretching and activity, Blood Flow Stimultation Therapy warms the muscles in the injured area which increases range of motion and allows for a safer more thorough stretch.

Therapeutic Ultrasound

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

Therapeutic Ultrasound heats and massages your soft tissue giving you three primary benefits. First, it increases blood flow in the treated area which speeds your body's natural healing process. Second, it reduces swelling and edema which are the main sources of pain. Third, ultrasound softens existing scar tissue and minimizes the build up of new scar tissue resulting in reduced pain while healing and greater flexibility once healing is complete.

Eucalyptus...
It's in our Gel!

Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body. This is a process known as phonophoresis. Ultrasound with Phonophoresis is rapidly becoming more popular than Ultrasound Therapy alone.

Peppermint...
It's in our gel too!

Our MendMeShop Lavender Infusion Gel is the only topical therapeutic gel that is also a Phonophoretic Ultrasound Gel. It is made with natural medical ingredients including eucalyptus, peppermint, Bulgarian lavender and menthol. These effective ingredients have anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, decongestant, and circulatory stimulant properties. When applied topically and massaged into the skin, MendMeShop Lavender Infusion Gel relieves pain and speeds healing without any side-effects.

Cold Compression Therapy

Our cold compression wraps work by interrupting and slowing nerve and cell function in the area of your injured tendon. Once blood vessels are damaged they can no longer carry oxygenated blood to the damaged tissue and therefore cells begin to break-down. The deep cold provided by our cold compression wraps slows cell function thereby reducing cellular break-down. Furthermore, because the cold wraps serve to numb the nerves, the wraps also reduce pain!

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 - this way they can cool one while wearing the other. 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.

Always allow the injured area to return to normal body temperature between hot and cold treatments by waiting 60-90 minutes before applying a different therapy.

Or email us at service@MendMeShop.com