An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common injuries affecting the knee joint. The ACL is a key stabilizing ligament in the knee, and when it is torn, it can cause the knee to become unstable. If left untreated or if the problem is inadequately treated, it threatens mobility and can lead to further damage to other structures in the knee, such as the meniscus or articular cartilage. An ACL tear may be very common, but you can greatly benefit from expert treatment for this injury.
Sports medicine specialists are experts in treating ACL injuries and helping patients rehabilitate, particularly after surgery. Furthermore, they also provide education on how to prevent another ACL injury. There are a number of ways sports medicine can help in ACL rehabilitation.
Let’s talk about it.
Advantages of Sports Medicine in ACL Repair
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with injuries sustained from physical activities such as sports and exercise. Doctors trained in sports medicine have a special focus on helping injured patients heal faster, so they can once again reach optimal performance levels.
Below are some of the ways a sports medicine doctor can facilitate faster and complete healing of an ACL injury:
- Providing guidance on activity modification: One of the most important things you can do after an ACL injury is to modify your activities, so you don’t put too much stress on your healing ligament. Your sports medicine specialist will be able to give you specific recommendations on which activities you should avoid and when you can start slowly reincorporating them back into your life.
- Developing a personalized rehabilitation program: Rehabilitation following an ACL injury is crucial for regaining strength and stability in your knee joint. Your sports medicine specialist will work with you to develop a tailored rehabilitation program that meets your unique needs and helps get you back on your feet and into your sport as quickly and safely as possible. A typical program includes physical therapy, which is critical to healing after an ACL injury. Physical therapy will help strengthen the muscles that support the knee, increase flexibility, achieve full range of motion in the knee, and slowly restore stabilization to the knee and reduce the risk of another injury.
- Offering guidance on return-to-sport activities: It’s important to ease back into sports and other physical activities after an ACL injury. You will typically need to complete phases of rehabilitation, the last of which is returning to practices and playing games or matches once again. During every phase, a sports medicine doctor will monitor your symptoms, your performance level, flexibility, range of motion, and much more. The goal is to gradually get you to full performance ability without risking reinjury. A sports medicine doctor is an expert in achieving this.
Sports medicine specialists play a vital role in helping patients recover from ACL injuries. If you’ve recently suffered an ACL injury, be sure to consult with a sports medicine specialist near you for expert guidance on treatment and rehabilitation.
ACL Rehabilitation in Bismarck, North Dakota
The board-certified orthopedic surgeon at The Bone & Joint Center, Dr. Chad B. Carlson, specializes in knee surgery, including arthroscopic knee repair, and regularly treats patients with sports injuries, such as ACL tears. Not all sports medicine doctors can perform surgery, but Dr. Carlson’s background in orthopedics and advanced training in knee surgery makes him highly qualified to perform surgery on your knee.
Dr. Carlson not only treats sports injuries, but he also provides injury prevention and performance training and customizes it according to your needs. Trust that Dr. Carlson will create an individualized plan that works perfectly for you.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Carlson, call our office today at (701) 946-7400 / (866) 900-8650 or use our convenient online request form. The Bone & Joint Center has several locations in North Dakota, and our main office is located in Bismarck.
