What is an ACL?
ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament. The ACL is a ligament, which is a fibrous structure made of collagen, connecting two or more bones together. In this case, the ACL is one of two ligaments in the center of the knee (the other is the PCL) which helps connect the femur to the tibia. The ACL originates in a large notch at the end of the femur and runs diagonally to insert on the top surface of the tibia. Emory’s team of physicians offers ACL surgery that repairs these torn or overextended ligaments of the knee. • What does the ACL do? Answer: The ACL prevents the tibia from sliding too far forward from underneath the femur. It also helps prevent hyperextension of the knee, and resistance to rotational forces about the knee. ACL knee surgery is necessary once the tibia has slid too far or the knee joint has experienced hyperextension. • How does an ACL knee injury occur? Answer: An ACL knee injury typically occurs during cutting, twisting or pivoting activities or with hyperextens
A common sit of sports injury, especially in football, is the knee. The most often injured portion of the knee is the ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament. This ligament is located in the very middle of the knee and helps it rotate properly. It also keeps the tibia in place. It is one of the four ligaments in the knee that help humans walk, and it works with the posterior cruciate ligament to keep the tibia stable. A healthy ACL is essential for pain-free walking and running. Because of this, athletes are usually very protective of their knees. That’s the reason for shock-absorbing sneakers and other technology to keep the knees safe. A badly torn ACL can end an athletic career. An ACL can be injured from a blow to the side of the leg, but in non-athletes, most frequently occurs when the knee is twisted, from a sudden stop and reverse move, or from simple overextension of the knee joint. Athletes are often taught how to decrease stress on the ACL through changing the way they move in cer
