Ask a Doctor: Torn ACL FAQs Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog Torn ACL FAQ Mar 16, 2019 Cedars-Sinai Staff Share Tweet Post You're playing pickup basketball and decide to fake out the person guarding you. You pivot to change directions—and suddenly your knee buckles and screams out in pain. You may have torn your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the stabilizing ligament in your knee that connects your thighbone to your shinbone. To better understand the treatment and recovery for a torn ACL, we talked to Dr. Carlos Uquillas, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute. Injury prevention should be more of a focus than how to deal with it after it happens. Q What usually causes an ACL tear Dr. Carlos Uquillas: Non-contact pivoting injuries are the most common ACL injuries. It's not that someone bumps into you or you get tackled the wrong way—it's that your body is moving in one direction, you plant your foot, you try to turn, and the ACL tears. Read: Torn Achilles Tendon: FAQ Q Can overuse lead to an ACL tear Dr. Uquillas: With an ACL tear, it's usually not an issue with the ligament itself that causes the injury—it's an issue of muscles getting fatigued and you losing balance and control over your body. Without these muscles supporting the knee properly, the ligament is more likely to tear when stressed. That's why it's important to keep your strength through the legs, torso, hips, and trunk for stabilization. Read: Ask a Doc: Is Running Good or Bad for You? Q What are the symptoms of a torn ACL Dr. Uquillas: Some patients hear a pop when they first injure the ACL. There can be a lot of pain, and sometimes it's hard to put weight on your leg. If you're unsure whether you seriously injured your knee, keep an eye on the swelling over the first few days after hurting it. Significant swelling that takes days to go away is not normal and should send you to your doctor or the hospital. Read: Meniscus Tears: FAQ Q What are the treatments for ACL injuries Dr. Uquillas: It all depends on your age and activity level. Surgery is common for people who are young and active. After surgery, you're on crutches and in a stabilizing brace for a few weeks. You can start doing the stationary bike around 4-6 weeks, elliptical at 8 weeks, and start running after 3-4 months. Going back to sports after ACL surgery—even with the right recovery plan—takes at least 9 months. For others, surgery might not be the best option because the recovery time is lengthy and the ACL is not vital to living a normal life. Talk to your orthopaedist about whether surgery makes sense for you. If you forego surgery, getting back to daily life (not involving pivoting and twisting, like playing sports) could only take 2-4 weeks. With an ACL tear, it's usually not an issue with the ligament itself that causes the injury—it's an issue of muscles getting fatigued and you losing balance. Click To Tweet Q Can people avoid ACL injuries Dr. Uquillas: This can be a preventable injury. Injury prevention should be more of a focus than how to deal with it after it happens. Building up strength in your core, learning how to jump and land properly, pivoting correctly—all of these are important for preventing an ACL tear. Tags Expert Advice Bone and Joint Health Orthopaedics Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics Cancer Women's Health Heart Expert Advice Patient Stories Brain Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility