The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments located in the knee joint, and is responsible for providing stability during walking and other activities. A torn or sprained ACL is a highly common knee injury, which affects more than 200,000 people in the United States each year, out of which approximately half undergo knee surgery. About half of all cases are moreover accompanied by other damages to the structures of the knee.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments located in the knee joint, and is responsible for providing stability during walking and other activities. A torn or sprained ACL is a highly common knee injury, which affects more than 200,000 people in the United States each year, out of which approximately half undergo knee surgery. About half of all cases are moreover accompanied by other damages to the structures of the knee.
What Causes a Torn ACL?
ACL injuries most commonly occur in athletes, but can also happen while performing everyday activities, due to falling or tripping, or result from vehicle accidents. Especially, sports such as soccer, football, hockey, rugby, gymnastics, and skiing are associated with relatively high rates of torn ACLs. Tears or sprains are generally caused by (1) overextension or twisting of the knee joint; (2) getting hit hard on the side of the knee, for example during a tackle; (3) quickly turning or stopping while running at a high speed; or (4) landing improperly after a jump.
Interestingly, women are at a higher risk of sustaining ACL injuries than men, owing to slight differences in the female and male physiology, which make the ACL more susceptible to injuries in women. Furthermore, differences in muscular strength and mass, neuromuscular control, physical conditioning, and estrogen levels may also impact the strength or the ligaments in the body, and thereby their risk of getting injured.
Symptoms
The most commonly described symptom of a torn ACL is a loud “popping” sound and sensation in the knee joint at the time when the injury occurs. Immediately after, intense knee pain usually develops, making weight-bearing, and even walking, very difficult; and the knee may become unstable and buckle under your weight as you try to put weight on it. Within approximately six to 24 hours, bleeding within the knee joint will cause the knee to swell, and this swelling along with the accompanied inflammation may further limit movements to the joint and your ability to walk.
While the intense pain and swelling may subside temporarily with time, if a torn ACL is left untreated, the feelings of unsteadiness and discomfort will likely remain, and you may experience recurrent pain and swelling, as well as have your knees give way when walking, especially when going up or down stairs. If the injury is mild, you may only notice that the knee feels unstable or seems to give way when you are using it; however, even mild cases should not be ignored, and if you attempt to go back to sports before seeing a sports medicine or orthopedic trauma expert, there is a high risk that you may cause further damage to the structures of the injured knee.
How are ACL Tears Diagnosed and Treated?
ACL tears and sprains are diagnosed by physical examination, during which the doctor will look particularly for signs of tenderness, swelling, bruising and deformities; and compare the stability between the injured and healthy knee. Next, imaging studies of the knee, using for example x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging, are performed.
The treatment for ACL tears generally includes a combination of rest, physiotherapy, and/or orthopedic surgery. If you suspect that you have a torn ACL, contact your sports medicine or orthopedic trauma specialist immediately in order to ensure quick and accurate diagnosis and treatment.
How to Prevent Sports Injuries
Sports injuries can affect anyone no matter how in shape they are. In fact, approximately 10 percent of all physically active adults suffer a sports-related injury every year, and more than 775,000 children under the age of 15 visit the emergency room with a sports injury each year in the U.S. alone.
4 Tips for Knee Pain Relief
The majority of American adults have experienced knee pain at some point in their lives, and many live with chronic knee pain. Fortunately, exercise and physical therapy have been proven to be just as effective as surgery for relief from osteoarthritis-related knee pain. Strengthening and stretching key muscles can help you to prolong your knee health and to relieve your chronic knee pain.
Occupational Therapist
General Summary
An exempt position responsible for helping patients improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. Patients may have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally or emotionally disabling.
Essential Job Responsibilities
1. Assesses patients and develops treatment plans in collaboration with physicians and other clinicians.
2. Assists patients to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Helps patients to improve their basic motor functions and reasoning ability and to compensate for any permanent loss of function to reach the goal of having independent, productive, and satisfying lives.
3. Helps patients in performing a variety of activities from operating a computer to dealing with daily needs such as dressing cooking, and eating.
4. Assists with patients with exercises that increase strength and dexterity, visual acuity, and the ability to discern patterns.
5. Uses variety of equipment during treatment including computer programs to help patients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, problem solving, perceptual skills, memory, sequencing, and coordination to aid in independent living.
6. Teaches patients, particularly those with permanent disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy, in the use of adaptive equipment including wheelchairs, orthotics, and aids for eating and dressing.
7. Follows medical practice policies related to compliance, safety, and infection control. Documents patient treatment and outcomes in medical record.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from accredited school plus master’s degree in field. Current state occupational therapist license, successful completion of national certification examination. Current CPR certificate.
Experience
Minimum two years of experience, preferably in clinic setting.
Performance Requirements Knowledge
1. Knowledge of occupational therapy principles, standards and applications.
2. Knowledge of physical, biological, and behavioral sciences as well as application of occupational therapy equipment, devices, and patient-specific therapeutic devices. Understanding of how to modify equipment as needed.
3. Knowledge of clinic policies and regulations related to infection control, safety. And quality improvement.
Abilities
1. Ability to collaborate with patients, families, and employers to modify workplace or home environment in line with patient’s condition, including identification of environmental factors and hazards.
2. Ability to communicate with patients and families in caring and compassionate manner to encourage behavioral changes.
3. Ability to analyze patient data and behavior and modify treatment plan as appropriate.
Skills
1. Skill in evaluating and treating patients.
2. Kill in proper use of occupational therapy equipment and devices.
3. Skill in assessing and recording patient activities and progress.
Equipment Operated
Variety of therapeutic equipment including wheelchairs, orthotics, and aids for activities of daily living. Computer hardware and software for record keeping.
Work environment
Medical office and exam room settings. May also require visits to patient homes and workplaces. Exposure to communicable diseases, biohazards, and conditions related to clinic setting.
Mental/Physical Requirements
Involves standing, sitting, walking, bending, stooping, and twisting. Must be able to transport/ transfer patient safely. Occasional need to lift/ carry and move equipment and supplies weighing up to 50+ pounds. Some stress related to dealing with concerns of patients and families.
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Physical Therapist
General Summary
An exempt position responsible for rehabilitating persons with physical disabilities. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as back pain, arthritis, and fractures. May specialize in orthopedics and sports medicine.
Essential Job Responsibilities
1. Helps to restore physical function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent permanent disability. Assists in restoring, maintaining, and promoting overall fitness and health.
2. Examines patients’ medical histories. Tests and measures patients’ strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function.
3. Determines patients’ ability to be independent and reintegrate into the workplace or community after injury or illness.
4. Develops plans describing a treatment strategy, its purposes, and its anticipated outcome. Plan often includes exercise regimens at the clinic and at home to increase flexibility, strength, or endurance. May use the electrical stimulation, hot packs, cold compresses and ultrasound to relive pain and reduce swelling.
5. Teaches patients how to use assistive and adaptive devices such as crutches, prosthesis, and wheelchairs.
6. Documents patients’ progress, conducts periodic examinations, and modifies treatments with emphasis on identification of areas requiring more/ less attention.
Education Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from an accredited program; successful competition of clinical internship. Master’s degree in physical therapy preferred.
Experience
Minimum two years of experience as a physical therapist, preferably in a clinic setting. Current state physical therapist license. Current CPR certificate.
Performance Requirements Knowledge
1. Knowledge of basic science including biology, chemistry, and physics as well as biomechanics, neuroanatomy, and disease manifestations.
2. Knowledge of medical practice policies/ procedures, regulations, safety/ injection control, and quality assurance requirements.
3. Knowledge of examination techniques and therapeutic procedures.
Abilities
1. Ability to effectively communicate interpersonally in order to educate patients about their physical therapy treatments.
2. Ability to demonstrate compassion and desire to help patients.
3. Ability to analyze data and modify treatment plans as appropriate.
Skills
1. Skill in appropriate evaluation and treatment of patients including hands-on procedures such as deep-tissue massage.
2. Skill in using physical therapy equipment by consistently using devices appropriately to improve patient health status.
3. Skill in effectively maintaining equipment; successful completion of related competency testing.
Equipment Operated
Often demonstrates and helps patients use assistive and adaptive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and canes. Operates physical therapy equipment such as ultrasound, traction, and electrical stimulation.
Work environment
Medical office, exam rooms, and specially equipped therapy facilities. Exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances and biohazards.
Mental/Physical Requirements
Often have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. Frequently move heavy equipment, lift patients or help them turn, stand or walk. Occasionally must be able to lift and carry 50+ pounds. Periodic stress from workload or anxious patients.
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How To Treat Sports Injuries
Because every injury is unique, our orthopedic surgeons in Jacksonville always recommend that you come in for any sports-related injury; however, there is a typical process you are likely to encounter as we work to heal your body.
Non-surgical Treatments for Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can be highly debilitating and limit you greatly in your daily activities. While some shoulder injuries may require surgery, there are several non-surgical treatment options that have been shown to be effective for improving shoulder pain.
As you would with other types of injuries, try to rest the affected shoulder and to use an ice pack to reduce any potential swelling or inflammation in the first couple of days after the injury. After this, if the pain still remains, see your doctor or a sports medicine expert or physical therapist as soon as possible since early intervention is always associated with better treatment outcomes.
What Exercises Are Good for Knee and Hip Arthritis?
Up to one in four people will develop symptomatic osteoarthritis of the hip, and almost one in two people will develop arthritis in the knee during their lifetime. Furthermore, in obese individuals, symptomatic knee arthritis affects every two out of three people. These numbers are startling and truly emphasize the need to lead a healthy lifestyle in order to reduce the risk of getting arthritis in the first place as well as to improve the associated symptoms once arthritis has developed.
Do You Have an Ankle Fracture? What’s Next?
In addition to being caused by serious events such as falling, being injured while playing sports or being in a car accident, fractured ankles are commonly caused by something so seemingly insignificant as twisting or rolling your ankle. While some fractures, especially those only involving one of the ankle bones (namely the tibia, fibula or talus), may not stop you from walking and carrying out your usual everyday tasks, others may have serious effects and prohibit you from even putting weight on the foot.
All About Back Surgery
Whether or not to have back surgery can be a difficult choice. While it is definitely not right for everyone, in some cases, it may be the best or even the only option.
In general, back surgery is considered only when all other non-surgical options have failed. In fact, in the majority of cases, back surgery is not needed, and most back issues can be resolved by medication, massage therapy, physiotherapy or even chiropractic care. However, in a subset of chronic or severe cases, back surgery may be warranted.
