ACL Rupture
What is an ACL Rupture?
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is deep within the knee joint, connecting the thigh bone with the shin bone. Its function is to prevent excessive forward movement of the shin in relation to the thigh and also to prevent excessive rotation at the knee joint. The ACL is usually injured when landing from a jump onto a bent knee, or landing on a knee that is over-extended. Riders without an ACL find it extremely difficult to control the bike, particularly when landing jumps.
What can you do to prevent an ACL Rupture?
A high quality Knee Brace can be effective in reducing the risk of an ACL injury. If you've ever suffered a knee injury during Motocross then you'll appreciate that prevention is better than rehab - high quality Knee Bracing is the number one method of knee protection.
High quality Knee Braces can prevent the expense and stress caused by Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) ruptures, Medial Collateral Knee Ligament (MCL) injuries, Meniscal tears and Cartilage injuries. If you're already injured then a Knee Brace can be used throughout the rehabilitation period, from the initial injury until your return to racing.
What should you do if you suffer an ACL Rupture?
All ACL injuries require the opinion of an orthopaedic consultant. During the immediate aftermath of an ACL injury the PRICE treatment protocol is most effective. This is an acronym for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. The Aircast Knee Cryo/Cuff is the most effective method of providing ice therapy and can be used for the home treatment of knee injuries and knee pain. It can provide continuous ice cold water and compression for 6 hours to significantly reduce knee pain and knee swelling. If the knee is unstable following an ACL injury then reconstruction surgery is required. This is followed by a 6 month rehabilitation programme with a physiotherapist.
