What is the anterior cruciate ligament?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of two ligaments that are inside the knee. This ligament is frequently injured in sports. When the ACL is torn, the knee will often be unstable and it will be impossible to play sports that involve cutting, running, and jumping. Surgical and rehabilitation advances have made the ACL injury less of a threat to athletic careers than it used to be. The ACL can now be anatomically reconstructed with a graft, and many players return to their previous level of competition following this surgery. ACL reconstruction is still a major surgery that requires extensive rehabilitation supervised by a qualified physical therapist or certified athletic trainer. In uncomplicated cases and depending on the sport, athletes can expect to return to full sports participation in approximately 6 to 9 months following ACL reconstruction.
