- By Iram Hussain
- Wed, 08 Jan 2025 05:56 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Child and teen athletes are at a growing age. This means their muscles, ligaments and bones are at a developing stage. The youngsters, when they are in the growing phase, are more susceptible to injuries when involved in rough sports. The skeletal and muscular systems of young adults are not as developed which increases their risk of ACL surgeries. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the four major ligaments that aid in stabilising the knee joint. It helps to keep the knee stable and prevents injury from sliding, rotating, jumping, landing and hyperextension of limbs during running.
In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. Ashutosh Jha, Consultant – Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospital, Ghaziabad recommended simple remedies for youngsters to avoid ACL, a common sports injury.
Why do ACL injuries commonly occur in young athletes?
In the age of adolescence, a swift growth spurt is observed. Their muscles and tendons take longer to mature. This causes temporary muscle imbalance in the knees, making the ACL prone to tearing. Apart from this, the growth plates which are the ends of the bones where new bone tissue is forming in youngsters, leave a gap. These growth plates are more susceptible to twisting and jerk-type motions.
Symptoms of an ACL tear
- Sudden pain in the knee
- A ‘popping’ sound in the knee when the ACL tears
- Swelling in the knee within 24 hours of injury
- The sensation of the knee is unstable
- Limited movement in the knee
Treating ACL Tears
ACL Reconstruction Surgery: It is minimally invasive and replaces the torn ligament with a tendon from some other part of the patient’s knee like the hamstring.
Arthroscopy: This is done to treat joint problems. A small incision is made in order to insert a small camera placed in a narrow tube to help the doctor locate the damaged joint and operate on it.
After surgical procedures, consulting physical therapy to strengthen and improve balance in the joint. The recovery period takes from 6 months to 12 months. The patient can wear a knee brace or use crutches to aid walking.
How to avoid your teen from an ACL tear?
Strengthening the Knee Muscles: To avoid an ACL tear, building and strengthening the muscles around the knees, especially the quadriceps and hamstrings, can aid in supporting and further providing stability to the knee joint.
Adequate Warm-up: It is essential to do warm-up exercises before any extensive activity or sport. Warming up increases the blood flow to the muscles, which makes them more flexible. This prevents the chances of an injury.
Proper Training: Every sport requires different techniques and body movements to ensure efficiency in the sport. With guided training from coaches, the youngster can prevent undue injury. Also, the training could be tailored according to the physical capacity of the athlete.
Required Rest and Nutrition: Factors like eating healthy food, limiting the intensity of training, proper rest periods, and hydration are crucial factors in preventing sports injuries. It is vital to be mindful of the diet and hydration levels when training for a sport.