What is an ACL injury?
A torn ACL is an injury or tear to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL is one of the four main stabilising ligaments of the knee, the others being the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL). The ACL attaches to the knee end of the Femur (thigh bone), at the back of the joint and passes down through the knee joint to the front of the flat upper surface of the Tibia (shin bone).
ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament, one of four ligaments that keep the knee from wobbling or giving out when you move. To understand ACL injury, it helps to know a little about how the knee works. The knee is a large joint where the shinbone (tibia) meets the thighbone (femur). Two ligaments run along either side of the knee. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is on the inside and keeps the knee from bending in. The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is on the outside and keeps the knee from bending out. Two other ligaments — the ACL and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) — cross each other in the middle of the knee. They work together to keep the shinbone attached to the thighbone. The ACL connects the front part of the shinbone to the back part of the thighbone so that the shinbone does not slide in front of the thighbone. When the knee is forced into an unusual position, the ACL and other ligaments can tear, partially or all the way. ACL tears occur when children stop or
