Torn ACL – What you Need to Know
If you're an athlete or sports fan - be it of football, basketball, baseball, or tennis - chances are you've heard the word "ACL" tossed around a time or two, and with good reason. According to the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine, about 150,000 ACL injuries occur each year, accounting for more than $500,000,000 in annual U.S. healthcare costs. With acronyms abounding, medical jargon can be difficult to keep straight! So what is the ACL, exactly, and what should you do in the case of injury? What is the ACL? ACL stands for the anterior cruciate ligament, one of the major and primary ligaments in the knee. Under stress (particularly during athletic activity or trauma), the ACL is particularly susceptible to tearing. Any abrupt stop, twist, or impact puts pressure on this delicate ligament, and can lead to injury. For this reason, ACL injuries most commonly occur in sports that require sudden stops, such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, and tennis. Alternately, the ACL may also be injured during a traumatic event, such as a car accident. Chances are, if you've experienced this too-common injury, you know it - the tearing of the ligament often results in a tell-tale…