ACL Physio Glasgow: Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic For Your Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

You are out playing football or rugby with your team, club or friends. You make a sharp turn to react to gameplay and feel and hear a pop in your knee, followed by extreme pain and swelling. You hobble off the pitch and need to receive medical treatment but you experience instability in your knee. There is a very good chance that you have just suffered an injury to your ACL, otherwise known as your anterior cruciate ligament. Learn about the impact that physiotherapy and a bespoke rehabilitation programme can have on your ACL tear with the expert team at The Physio Clinic Glasgow.

What is an ACL tear (anterior cruciate ligament)?

The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a fundamental support to a knee joint. It is one of the key ligaments that stabilises the knee, primarily resisting the tibia (shin bone) femur moving too far forwards in relation to the femur (thigh bone). It is crucial for proper knee movement and stability. An ACL tear can be serious and can have consequences for your health, your movement and ultimately your life.

ACL tears often occur as a result of high-intensity sports such as football, rugby, skiing and rugby, where the knee is often twisted as a result of running to pivot or change direction. Unfortunately, it is not unusual to injure other structures such as the meniscus or MCL in the same instance.

If you have an injured ACL, you might be able to continue to perform normal day-to-day activities however, continuing to play or compete in sports is a no-go, and many promising sports careers are put at risk as a result of ACL injuries.

What are the symptoms of an ACL Tear?

This injury is common among athletes, particularly in sports that involve sudden stops and changes in direction.

• A loud "pop" sound at the time of injury
• Severe pain and inability to continue activity
• Rapid swelling of the knee
• Loss of range of motion

What role does physiotherapy have in rehabilitation?

There is no doubt that an ACL can be a devastating injury. There are different options available when treating ACL injuries. The "knee-jerk" reaction can be ACL surgical reconstruction however, not all ACL injuries require surgery. At Physio Clinic Glasgow, we have helped many patients recover from an ACL tears and return to competitive sports with and without ACL reconstruction surgery.

Physiotherapy for ACL tears focuses on helping to restore the knee’s function and range of motion by reducing pain and swelling, while also strengthening the hamstring and quadriceps. The goal is to stabilise the knee and regain strength in the muscles of the thigh and leg as a whole. To increase knee stability as quickly as possible, a knee brace or crutches can often be recommended.

Our physiotherapists work with individuals who have suffered an ACL injury to: -

• Reduce swelling and pain
• Increase to the full range of motion
• Strengthen knee, joints, legs and pelvis
• Improve mobility and balance/ proprioception
• Reduce chances of re-injury

We offer a tailored approach to rehabilitation, ensuring that we are advising patients to rest where necessary, educating them on the condition, diagnosis and recovery, offering pain management, and providing at-home/ gym exercises to improve range, mobility and strength. We will also provide advice which is tailored to the specific sport or physical activity that is in question, and ensure that we are completely aware of personal goals and objectives.

When knee surgery may be more appropriate

There are occasions where surgery may be the most appropriate form of treatment for a torn ACL. This is particularly the case when a patient is younger and has a full life of knee use before them, they wish to return to high-performing competitive sports, the ACL tear exists alongside another knee injury, or the tear is so severe that even everyday activities such as walking are challenging.

It is important to be aware not all high grade injuries require ACL reconstruction, and many people may cope without surgery.

The Role of ACL Rehabilitation

Treatment for ACL tears is not a binary choice. It is not the case that it is either surgery or physiotherapy. Whether you are having ACL surgery or not, it is important to receive a rehabilitation management programme to ensure that you are optimising the chances of returning to sports and physical activity.

How The Physio Clinic Glasgow Can Help ACL Ruptures and ACL Reconstruction

At The Physio Clinic Glasgow, we know the frustration of injury and the effect that it can have on your mental well-being. We understand the importance of keeping you active, not just in terms of your physical health but for your psychological and social well-being. We offer tailored solutions to our clients and offer bespoke treatment and rehabilitation programmes.

Physiotherapy Assessment and Treatment For Anterior Cruciate Ligament

With a focus on evidence-based practice, our experienced, fully qualified expert physiotherapists will perform a thorough initial assessment, allowing us to give you a simple explanation for your injury or pain.

Your physiotherapist will guide you through your personalised rehabilitation plan to ensure it meets your needs and fits into your schedule.

Your detailed rehab plan is emailed directly, with video demonstrations and guidance on how to tackle your injury between sessions. We will continue to manage any performance-related issues to get you back to your best quickly.

We welcome any questions between sessions. If you find you have any queries concerning your rehabilitation progress, contact your physiotherapist in the first instance. Your comfort is always our priority, both physically and mentally.

Physiotherapy Review, Rehabilitation and Exercise

In the review sessions following your assessment, we discuss your injury management, your goals, and how we can achieve them through effective conditioning.

Your recovery progress is continually measured and evaluated, and your recovery plan is modified where necessary to guarantee results. We strive to adapt all of our plans to evolve with your changing requirements.

We will always work through any change in plan with you in our rehab space to ensure the plan works for you and addresses any symptoms effectively. This includes exercise observations and adjustments that we will sign off on once they are spot on.

Sports Massage

Whether it is for recovery or relaxation, our fully qualified massage therapist will be able to deliver a professional sports massage session tailored to your needs. That means you choose the duration, the areas requiring attention, and the intensity.

Choose a 30/45/60/90 slot to suit you. Not sure what's best? Send an enquiry through our 'contact' page!

Telehealth Assessment

Can’t make it into our Glasgow clinic? Not to worry: we can deliver a thorough assessment and plan for you over a video call - thank you, technology!

We are pleased that we can now make physiotherapy more accessible for all, being well-versed in effective, remote pain management and rehabilitation.

If you need help from one of our physiotherapists but cannot make it into the clinic itself, we are only a video call away.