Viva Voce - ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) PDF

**[Anterior Cruciate Ligaments]** --------------------------------------------- ### **[Anatomy]** - **1 of 4** main ligaments that **stabilize the knee joint**. - **Inserts** on the **femoral condyle** and the **tibial plateau** (top of shin bone) - An intact **A.C.L** stabilizes the *...

**[Anterior Cruciate Ligaments]** --------------------------------------------- ### **[Anatomy]** - **1 of 4** main ligaments that **stabilize the knee joint**. - **Inserts** on the **femoral condyle** and the **tibial plateau** (top of shin bone) - An intact **A.C.L** stabilizes the **femur on the tibia** - Prevents **tibial rotation** during exercise ### **[Predisposing factors]** - **Fatigue** (lack of concentration.) - **Gender** (female) - **Age** (15-25) - **Certain sports** (football etc.) - **Playing surface** (in the rain or on artificial turf) ### **[Mechanism]** Irregular/overstretching of acl 1. **Cutting manoeuvre** 2. **Single leg landing** Changing direction increases **varus-valgus,** **internal rotation** **Deacceleration** It occurs most often between **10-30** degrees of flexion of **knee valgus position** When whilst the **upper body** is **rotated** to perform **cutting manoeuvre**. ### **[Treatment]** Surgery to reattach ligament to **tibia or femur** - **also, use of a synthetic material to replace whole ligament** Using a **knee brace** to apply **support and stability** to the **knee joint** Or Rehab - **6-12 months** in length - First **strengthening hamstrings** (**4-6** weeks, **can control movement of knee bones**) - If weak can cause further **abnormal movement** - **Gradual knee extension by strengthening quadriceps (e.g. leg extension)** - **Increase exercise intensity**