The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for ACL Injuries

Did you know that an ACL tear is the most prone ligament to injury in your knee? ACL injuries can occur in both the young and old, with a high frequency related to athletics and sports injuries.

Their high prevalence of mechanism of injury without direct contact makes it a difficult injury to avoid at times. Additionally, you might be apprehensive of putting yourself at risk for re-injury if you’ve already suffered a knee injury.

Chiropractic care is a non-invasive option that can help you rehab from your injury. Chiropractors can also help teach you preventive techniques for avoiding future injuries. This will help keep you out there living your best life for years to come.

If you have an interest in learning more about chiropractic care for ACL injuries, keep reading on!

What Are ACL Injuries?

ACL is the abbreviated term for the anterior cruciate ligament. Ligaments are essentially bands of tissue that help connect one bone to another. In the ACL example, it helps attach the femur and tibia and is one of the main ligaments in your knee.

You have four primary ligaments, but the ACL is arguably the most prone to injury. It helps with translating the tibia and the rotational component of your knee.

The ACL gets injured (or torn) from non-direct contact in most scenarios. Things like quick turns or stops can place too much stress on your ACL and cause it to tear.

Direct contact accounts for around 30 percent of injuries during athletic events. Non-contact injuries can also happen with motor vehicle accidents. Additionally, women are almost three times more likely to suffer an ACL tear.

The reasoning behind women being more prone to tears is likely due to their slight differences in anatomy compared to males.

What Is A Chiropractor?

Chiropractors are health professionals who have obtained a university doctorate degree in chiropractic medicine. First they complete their undergraduate degree and once they have completed 4 additional years of schooling, including clinical rotation, they can apply for licensure.

A qualified and licensed chiropractor will usually specialize in different settings. Some common areas of speciality include:

• Sports injuries
• Orthopaedics
• Radiology

Orthopaedics and sports injuries are two of the more common fields of speciality. When you visit a chiropractor, the first session will likely be an assessment and discussion of where your pain and discomfort is.

Afterward, there are many different manual therapies and modalities that chiropractors use. These include:

• Spinal or joint manipulations
• Mobilisations
• Modalities
• Education
• Exercise and stretching

Most chiropractors treat disorders related to the musculoskeletal system. Yet, their role in treating the neuromusculoskeletal system is receiving more praise in recent years.

Chiropractic Care For ACL Injuries

Can a chiropractor help with an ACL tear? In short – yes! Depending on the severity of the injury, there are different manual techniques and modalities that a chiropractor might use.

Sports ACL injuries can occur from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet, they can also happen from muscle imbalances. Seeing a chiropractor for sports injuries entails addressing any strength or flexibility imbalances.

Manual manipulations can help correct posture or alignment. Chiropractors might also use soft tissue massage, joint manipulation, and exercise to help with your recovery process.

ACL injuries can happen from muscle imbalances, and achieving optimal strength in each muscle group helps prevent future injury. Additionally, chiropractors can perform light mobilisations. This helps assess keep your joints mobile and bring nutrients to the damaged area.

Current Research With Rehabilitation

Research suggests that rehabilitation after an ACL tear was beneficial in two groups. One group received reconstructive surgery and the other did not. Starting rehabilitation as soon as possible showed the best results.

The primary basis of this research study was with athletes who were working at returning to sport. Athletes are able to return to sport sooner with rehabilitation. It also helps avoid more significant long-term complications.

Another study looked at how conservative treatment, such as chiropractic care, can benefit patients. The main goal of conservative treatment is avoiding surgical interventions. Conservative care included bracing, rehabilitation, and evaluations.

Over 70 percent of patients still did not need a reconstruction operation at the one-year mark. The first month was the most critical. During this time, patients fared better if they started rehab and bracing right away.

They also backed their study up with another one similarly conducted. The reference study showed positive results 15 years later following non-operative techniques for ACL tear recovery.

Preventing Future Injuries

One of the benefits of seeing a chiropractor for an ACL injury is it can help prevent future injuries. While chiropractors treat acute injuries, they also provide education and instruction on exercise, stretching, dieting, and more.

They view the body as a whole – if you have a predisposition towards certain injuries, they can address the issue and work with you on adapting your movements, work habits, or daily regime.

You can also work with your chiropractor on transitioning to exercises and activities you can safely perform at home.

Finding A Chiropractor

ACL injuries can cause pain and discomfort and make it hard to enjoy even the simplest activities. If you play a sport or are highly active, you know how debilitating an injury is.

Surgical treatments are intensive and can make your recovery even longer. Chiropractic care can help before or after surgery and make your recovery process smoother while quickly getting you back to your life.

If you want effective and fast results, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our qualified chiropractors!