As stated earlier, the knee is a hinged joint allowing for flexion and extension only. The ligaments of the knee help to prevent any movement that the knee is not designed for. The muscles above and below the knee joint are the prime movers. These muscles are what allow us to walk, run, jump, climb, etc. If you injure your knee, you lose the ability to perform these activities.
An ACL injury normally occurs from some type of rotational stress applied to the knee. Remember it is only made to bend and straighten. When this injury occurs, the athlete may feel a pop with in the knee. They will also experience a feeling of the knee “giving out”. The phrase “Trick knee” has long been associated with an ACL injury.
Other symptoms may include immediate swelling, an inability to fully straighten or bend the knee. The most common symptom is the feeling of the knee “giving out” or feeling unstable.
It is not uncommon for other structures in the knee to be damaged at the same time that one injures their ACL.
