ACL tears require specific treatment that depends on each patient as well as activity levels, age and presence or absence of injury to other parts of your knee. In most cases, surgery is recommended for people who are young and active, especially because ACL tear can happen after a sport event. For sedentary patients, nonsurgical treatment may be better solution.
The biggest reason to have surgery is to restore the essential stability to the knee, which means you can continue making sliding movements, which could be painful without surgery. The other reason is the most important and that is to protect articular cartilage in the knee from being damaged altogether.
It is vital to protect your lateral and medial meniscus in the knee as well, which is vital to remember. As soon as you check out this link: https://ortopedistaraulrodas.com, you can learn more about the reliable orthopedic surgeon.
The meniscus is a fibrous type of cartilage that sits between the ends of the femur and tibia, and you can attach it to the joint lining. We can differentiate two separate meniscal cartilages in the knee, each one is C-shape: the first one is on the inner half of the knee, known as medial meniscus, and one on the outer half or lateral meniscus.
You should know that lateral and medial menisci serve as shock absorber between the ends of the bones with an idea to protect the surface of articular cartilage. Since you will have limited movement, you can damage the meniscus or tear it, which may lead to losing shock-absorbing capabilities.
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Without a functioning meniscus, the articular cartilage is exposed to higher pressure, which will wear away and lead to potential arthritis. At the same time, the articular cartilage may be damaged or directly injured afterward.
Benefits of ACL Surgery
1. Restored Function and Stability
ACL surgery can help you reconstruct the damaged ligament, which will help you ensure the stability to the joint. As soon as you restore the structural integrity, you can maintain and regain stability. That way, you can perform relevant activities that require jumping, pivoting and quick direction changes, which are important altogether.
2. Accelerated Recovery
ACL surgery requires a comprehensive rehabilitation right after the procedure. The structured approach should include exercises and physical therapy, which will help you facilitate a faster recovery.
Patients regain flexibility, strength and range of motions more efficiently, which will reduce downtime and allow you to return to regular activities and sports. You should click here to learn more about this particular topic.
3. Long-term Joint Health
You should know that an ACL tear, if you leave it untreated could lead to severe instability, early arthritis and cartilage damage. ACL surgery addresses these risks by promoting long-term joint health and further degeneration. By choosing a surgery, you can minimize the chances of developing long-term issues that are associated with an unstable knee.
4. Mental Well-Being
You should remember that mental impact of an ACL injury is something people tend to underestimate. ACL surgery can offer you a sense of control and hope during the recovery process. When you achieve each step of a milestone during rehabilitation, patients experience sense of accomplishment, boost in confidence and positively influence their overall well-being.
Tips for Preparing for a Surgery
Surgery can be a stressful endeavor, especially because it can lead to months of not being able to walk properly. By following guide, you can understand everything that can happen in the future. As a result, you can safely prepare for the surgery, which is vital to remember.
First thing you should do is talking with a physiotherapist. Generally, rehabilitation is a significant aspect of your recovery. The therapist should teach you certain exercises that will help you prepare your knee for surgery.
We recommend you to focus on regaining a full range of motion, strengthening surrounding muscles including glutes, hamstrings and quads, reducing swelling through ice and elevation, while improving overall fitness with low-impact activities such as cycling.
At the same time, you can prepare your household, follow relevant instruction such as fasting before surgery and mentally prepare for the recovery. As mentioned above, restoring the range of motion is crucial because you should aim for full extension and flexion, which include straightening and bending.
We recommend you to conduct gentle exercises such as heel slides and quad sets. At the same time, stop doing anything that causes severe swelling and pain. Still, you should try to strengthen muscles by performing exercises such as static quad sets, hamstring curls, straight leg rises and bridges to strengthen the muscles that support the knee.
You can use various techniques to reduce swelling such as elevation, meaning the knee should be above the heart. Other options include compression and ice packs. Avoid placing pillow directly under, because that may lead to keeping the joint in bending position.
Another important consideration is the idea to improve overall balance by starting with stability and balance exercises such as using a wobble board and single-leg stands. That way, you can easily retrain nervous system. Finally, you should engage in low impact activities such as swimming or stationary biking to stay in shape and conduct cardio that will not stress the knee.
When it comes to logistical and health preparation, you should follow pre-op instructions such as surgeon advice, which features fasting before surgery and showering with antiseptic soap, which will ensure the best course of action. Check out this guide: https://www.wikihow.health/Prepare-for-ACL-Surgery to learn about ACL surgery.
We recommend you to practice with crutches, because you should get feel for using them beforehand, especially regarding post-surgery. By improving overall health, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and quitting smoking, you can speed up the recovery. The best course of action is to reduce weight, especially if you are overweight.
The home should be prepared as well include clearing clutter and potential tripping hazards like loose rugs. Besides, you should ensure frequently used items are within reach, while arrange for help with significant tasks and pets in case necessary.
