ACL Rehab and ACL Repair: Prep for the July 28th Beaches Jazz Run

Part of the charm and attraction to community races is the camaraderie.  And the Beaches Jazz Run on July 28^th is brimming with it. This 5km, 10km, or 20km race starts at the Beaches' Kew Gardens, and raises funds in support of the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation.  This event attracts all levels: the leisurely jogger, the competitive runner and even those using the event to condition for the subsequent Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October.  The Beaches Jazz Run is a seriously great time for everyone. 

But what if you are suffering from a torn ACL or have recently had ACL surgery? The Beaches Jazz Run may not seem all that useful if you can’t enjoy it. If you are suffering from the pain caused by a torn ACL, it's time to consider ACL rehab or treatment for an ACL injury.

ACL injuries are very common among athletes. The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a joint inside your knee, and an ACL injury occurs when this ligament is torn. ACL injuries are common for athletes whose sports demand sudden stops and changes in direction, like soccer, basketball, tennis and volleyball. This injury can result in inflammation and acute or severe pain.

Does an ACL tear require surgery? It depends on the injury, and a sports injury specialist can help you assess this. It's never beneficial to avoid dealing with an injury, as ignoring it can be detrimental. If you want to get back to your pre-injury state, it's best to address the problem by seeking out ACL repair or ACLrehab. 

How can a sports injury clinic help with your ACL repair and ACL rehab? Firstly, the method for treatment involves a thorough assessment to evaluate your injury in order to develop the best customizable plan for you. After this, our various treatment options range from physiotherapy to restore function in your muscles and increase movement and relieve pain, to custom knee bracing to help support and stabilize, reducing the pressure impacting the injured or repaired knee.

Don’t let an ACL injury keep you from enjoying the sports you love. Seeking out the proper treatment is crucial in order to get back to peak physical condition, and working with a sports injury clinic experienced in ACL repair and ACL rehab is a smart choice.

To find out more about ACL repair and ACL rehab, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Sun, Sand and… Strain?? An ACL Knee Brace Might be The Answer!

July 6^th and 7^th mark the 19^th annual Heatwave Toronto Beach Volleyball Event for SickKids.   Toronto’s largest beach volleyball event fills Ashbridge’s Bay and Woodbine Beach, for two full days of recreational and competitive beach volleyball, pitting teams of 6 against each other.  

Even if your summer plans don’t include participating in this great event, volleyball is a favourite summertime activity and a great way to fit in exercise.  That being said, if you have suffered an ACL injury, it can be difficult to enjoy or even participate in even the easiest of volleyball matches.  The bending and diving that is often unavoidable in volleyball can wreak havoc on a torn ACL so many people think avoiding the sport altogether is the easiest answer. But wait - before you resign yourself to a summer where sand equals strain, it might be better to think about getting fitted for a custom ACL knee brace.

Injuries to the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) are very common, and are often the result of rapidly decelerating, then sharply, suddenly changing direction.  ACL injuries have also been attributed to heavy or stiff-legged landings, as well as twisting or turning the knee while landing. Contact can also result in an ACL injury, and those who participate in contact sports are often most at risk. When the ACL is torn, instability is often an outcome, as well as pain ranging from moderate to severe.

How can custom knee braces help? Whether you are currently suffering from an acute ACL tear or have undergone surgery to repair an ACL tear, a custom ACL knee brace can help you rebuild muscle and redistribute weight evenly. A custom knee brace also works to reduce further wear and tear, all while providing support and stability.

Don’t just avoid favourite summertime sports like volleyball because of ACL pain - get back out there and enjoy them. Whether you plan to get a team together and participate in the Toronto Beach Volleyball Event for SickKids, or just want to play for fun, don’t continue to suffer.  Get fitted for a custom knee brace that helps you recover from ACL surgery or as part of your ACL rehab to ease the pain.

For more information about how a custom ACL knee brace can bring you relief, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

An ACL Tear: Options for ACL Repair and Rehabilitation

Ouch!

It’s the injury all athletes dread: a literal and figurative pain in the knee! An ACL tear comes with competing and with sports involving sudden motion and twists from various different sports related factors, including rapid change of direction, sudden stopping, an incorrect landing from a jump, or direct contact like being slammed by a large linebacker in a spectacular football tackle. As one of the most common forms of knee pain and injury, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is dogged.  An ACL tear is an injury no one wants.

Many of the highly in-demand major-league team sports (football, soccer or basketball) seem synonymous with ACL tears. Athletes involved in these are the ones most likely to experience ACL injuries, and thus require ACL repair and rehabilitation. What’s less common knowledge is that women are more likely than men to experience an ACL tear.

If you’ve been fortunate enough to avoid one to date, you may wonder exactly what an ACL tear is and what impact it can have on you.  An ACL tear occurs when the anterior cruciate ligament -- which is found inside the knee joint and controls the back and forth motion of the knee -- is stretched too far, resulting in the ligament partially or fully tearing.

The most common symptom of an ACL tear includes pain and swelling at the knee, which may go away if untreated. The problem is however, that avoidance of treatment can promote further injury, which is why merely ignoring it and returning to sports after the swelling has gone away is a very bad idea!! Pain or discomfort when walking, as well as a loss of your full range of motion or joint tenderness are also common symptoms that may indicate an ACL tear. These are also good signals that attention is needed!

An ACL tear is graded on a scale from one to three, “one” meaning the ligament has been stretched slightly, and “three” meaning a full tear. This grading system helps to determine what type of ACL repair is necessary and to then navigate the best approach to rehabilitation. 

Does an ACL tear require surgery? Not necessarily. The nature of ACL repair and rehabilitation depends on a variety of factors, including the grade of the injury, age of the patient, or their activity level. For example, a child with a partial ACL tear may require non-surgical treatment that allows them to regain the use of their knee to its pre-injury state.  Non-surgical ACL repair and rehabilitation methods include progressive physical therapy, rehab, and/or the continued use of a knee brace.  

Surgical ACL repair is necessary for some people, like the active adult who suffers from a full tear.  In this case surgical ACL repair is needed in order to rebuild the knee and to avoid any future injuries that may result from leaving the ACL tear untreated.

A professionally trained sports medicine or ACL injury specialist is equipped to charter the best course for repairing an ACL tear. An ACL specialist can perform rehab and therapy when a non-surgical treatment is chosen and also offer post-operative ACL repair rehabilitation to promote full recovery. Whether you choose surgical or non-surgical ACL repair, it’s the ACL injury specialist who offers a program customized to fit your unique needs.

Don’t suffer with ACL tear pain and inconvenience! To find out more about our surgical and non-surgical ACL tear repair and rehabilitation, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling (416) 800-0800, or visit www.aesm.ca