ACL injuries: How physical therapy may benefit your recovery

Therapeutic Knee Massage

A loud popping sound from your knee. Severe pain that causes you to stop what you’re doing. Rapid swelling and a feeling of knee instability. All these are common symptoms of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. 

An ACL injury occurs when the ligament in the knee is damaged, often during sports or activity. It’s also a common type of knee injury, and it’s reported that up to 200,000 of them occur every year. If left untreated, an ACL tear rarely heals on its own. Some severe cases of ACL injury require surgery to treat. But if you see a physical therapist in time, you may be able to avoid surgery for an ACL injury and get back to your active lifestyle faster.

How can manual therapy benefit your ACL injury?

One of the most common techniques that’s used in physical therapy plans for an ACL injury is manual therapy. This is actually an entire category of therapy techniques, and methods that fall into this category are also known as hands-on therapy techniques. The reason is that manual therapy methods involve your physical therapist moving and manipulating the injured knee with their hands. 

Some of the benefits that hands-on therapy techniques can offer patients with ACL injuries include: 

  • Reducing your levels of pain without pain-relieving medication
  • Improving your blood circulation
  • Accelerating the healing process in your injured knee
  • Reducing swelling and inflammation in and around your injury
  • Increasing the range of motion of your knee
  • Lowering the amount of scar tissue that forms at the site of your injury

Find effective physical therapy for ACL injuries at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy

Have an ACL injury that requires physical therapy? Our Excel Sports & Physical Therapy team is ready to help you find the care your injury requires. We offer free screenings that can confirm you have an ACL injury. Our team can also build you a personalized therapy plan intended to reduce your injury symptoms and decrease your risk of a future ACL injury. 

Unable to come into one of our clinics for your physical therapy? Don’t fret! Our physical therapy team can still offer you effective physical therapy services. We offer at-home therapy and virtual care sessions that are specifically designed to be used by patients who need help from home.

Don’t wait to start getting our help with your ACL injury. Contact our team today for more information about our helpful therapy services or to schedule your initial appointment.