🩹ACL

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four major ligaments stabilizing the knee, running diagonally through the center of the joint to resist forward sliding of the shin bone and excessive rotation. It is put under particularly high strain during rapid deceleration, pivoting, and landing from a jump.

ACL injuries are among the most extensively studied injuries in sports medicine, most often occurring during non-contact movements such as cutting or landing rather than direct collision. They are especially common in sports involving frequent pivoting, such as soccer, basketball, and skiing, and disproportionately affect younger athletes.

Management of an ACL tear can involve surgical reconstruction or, in some cases, a structured non-surgical rehabilitation approach, with the choice depending on factors such as activity goals, associated injuries, and knee stability. This page covers the ligament's anatomy and role, related conditions, assessment, and the extensive exercise progression typically involved in ACL rehabilitation.