Is nonsurgical ACL injury treatment possible?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) helps connect the upper and lower leg through the knee joint, while facilitating the range of motion needed for everyday activities like walking, jumping and running. Because it bears such a heavy load, sprains and tears to the ACL are common injuries, especially for athletes like football and basketball players.

Many people seeking ACL injury treatment wonder if surgery is the only option, or if recovery and a return to regular activities may be possible through nonsurgical methods. While every person and ACL injury is different, nonsurgical options, especially physical therapy, can be highly effective in many cases.

Learn more about how a physical therapist provides ACL injury treatment below. We also invite you to contact the team at Excel Sports and Physical Therapy if you have any questions or want to learn more about how we can help.

Physical therapy techniques for ACL treatment

For ACL injuries and other knee problems, physical therapy can provide increased strength, stability and range of motion in an attempt to augment the body’s natural healing process. After performing a full physical evaluation and asking about painful movements and other symptoms, a physical therapist can develop an ACL injury treatment plan that includes techniques such as the following:

• Manual therapy to gently mobilize the knee joint and increase range of motion
• Strength and stability exercises to reduce strain on the ACL
• Therapeutic massage to relax tense muscles around the knee
• Education on exercises and treatments that can be performed outside the clinic
• Recommendations for improved lifestyle choices, like eating a healthy diet, that can help the healing process

ACL injuries can take time to heal, so it’s important to be patient and never rush back into activities until you’ve been cleared by your physical therapist. When doing any activity, listen to your body and stop if you experience pain.

Excel sports and physical therapy specializes in knee injury treatment

Serving patients in St. Louis, Creve Coeur, Ellisville, Saint Peters, O’Fallon, Saint Charles, Warrenton and Wentzville, Missouri, Excel can help you receive the ACL injury treatment you deserve. We strive to provide one-on-one evaluations and personalized treatment plans to everyone we meet with. Our commitment is to help you get back to the people and activities you love as quickly and safely as possible.

Contact us today to learn more and schedule your initial consultation.