An anterior cruciate ligament tear is an injury to the knee commonly affecting athletes, such as soccer players, basketball players, skiers, and gymnasts. Nonathletes can also experience an ACL tear due to injury or accident. Approximately 200,000 ACL injuries are diagnosed in the United States each year. Approximately 70% of ACL tears in sports are the result of non contact injuries, and 30% are the result of direct contact (player-to-player, player-to-object). Women are more likely than men to experience an ACL tear. At Postureworks, our goal is to help individuals with ACL tears reduce pain and swelling, regain strength and movement, and return to desired activities.

WHAT IS AN ACL TEAR?

Various physical events (injury, illness, surgery, etc.) can disrupt your brain’s capacity to switch on the right muscle, at the right time, and with the right amount of strength. Without the proper stability system, known as neuromuscular deactivation, this loss of muscle control impairs your ability to properly stabilize joints through their range of motion. Specifically in the knee joint, the ACL becomes more susceptible to increased stress and forces may exceed its capacity, leading to strain or rupture.

Proper training habits along with the ability of the athlete to perform the desired movements in a strong, efficient, and safe manner are essential for optimal health and pain-free performance.

How can Postureworks help?

The physical demands of athletes are uniquely different from the general population who do not engage in similar activity. Likewise, physical therapy for this special population should not be given a conventional approach. Working with athletes is typically not a big part of a physical therapist’s education. It is a specialty area requiring much further study, training, and practice following graduation.

At Postureworks, you will be matched with a physical therapist who specializes in treating athletes. Unlike the “typical” PT who probably doesn’t even play sports, you will have a specialist who knows exactly what you are going through.

Postureworks physical therapists assess how you move as it relates to your sport. They apply a holistic approach to identify not only the site of injury, but the true source of any pain, weakness and dysfunction. Addressing the underlying cause is absolutely essential for healing an injury, preventing recurrence, and keeping you healthy and at a peak level of performance. The progression of your physical therapy treatments should be a reflection of the type of activity you are trying to get back to doing.

You will feel the Postureworks difference from your first visit. This is a highly personalized experience delivered by a passionate movement expert fully dedicated to getting you back to the sport or training activity that you love. Once your pain has been addressed, you will have the opportunity to continue honing your movement through ongoing performance training at Postureworks.