ACL Reconstruction / The Knee
Knee Overview
The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is one of the four main ligaments in the knee. The ligament connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia), keeping the knee from hyperextending, preventing anterior dislocation at the tibia, providing rotational stability and support to help prevent unnatural movement in the joint. If the knee is twisted, bent side to side, or hyperextended, the ACL can be injured.
Contact sports or high-impact activities involving rapid twisting movements may place extreme forces on the knee, which can lead to injury. Basketball, football, soccer, baseball, tennis, and skiing are common activities that can lead to a tear or rupture of an ACL. However, ACL injuries can also occur in older adults as the ACL becomes weaker with age. Simple activities such as missing a step on a staircase, stepping in a hole, or falling can cause ACL tears.
Healthy Knee
Injured Knee