WHAT IS AN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT (ACL) SPRAIN?
A sprain is a joint injury that causes a stretch or a tear in a ligament. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect one bone to another. The ACL is one of the major ligaments in the middle of the knee. It connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The ACL, along with the posterior cruciate ligament, helps to keep the knee stable and protects the femur from sliding or turning on the tibia. Sprains are graded I, II, or III depending on their severity: • Grade I sprain – pain with minimal damage to the ligaments • Grade II sprain – more ligament damage and mild looseness of the joint • Grade III sprain – the ligament is completely torn, and the joint is very loose or unstable HOW DOES IT OCCUR? The anterior cruciate ligament is frequently injured in forced twisting motions of the knee. It may also become injured when the knee is straightened further than it normally can straighten (hyperextended). It sometimes occurs when the thigh bone is forcefully pushed across t
