One of the best known sports injuries. You see them every day at the physio’s office. Many athletes have to undergo the long rehab process for this kind of knee injury at some point in their sporting careers.
What is it?
The cruciate ligaments work with the collateral ligaments and the muscles to stabilise the knee joint. The unique thing about the cruciate ligaments is their sensory function. The send important information from the joint to the muscles. A high-impact accident can tear these ligaments. The anterior cruciate ligament tends to tear during a turning, shearing movement, often caused by a clash with an opponent or a fall while skiing. The posterior cruciate ligament normally tears due to a hard impact on the shin. Like on a motorbike or if your ski suddenly gets stuck.
You generally have two options:
Conservative treatment without surgery.
Surgery.
What’s important at this stage?
With this kind of injury, you have to start from scratch. Your joint stability, your sense of the position of the joint, your control of your muscles; it’s all gone. Depending on how serious your symptoms are, you might need surgery as quickly as possible or not at all.
Regardless, everyone’s rehab journey will be different. As a general rule, keeping a good balance between exercise and rest is recommended.
The thigh muscles that stabilise the knee are key to recovery.
But the core muscles also play a critical role.
Dr. med. Philipp Appelmann
Team Doctor at 1. FSV Mainz 05
«Could we have prevented the injury to our player? I don’t know. Can we reduce a football player’s individual risk of injury? Yes!»
Three-dimensional training on the Luna or Casa enables you to target the three-dimensional cruciate ligament perfectly. The low load means that people who have suffered this injury can start with gentle exercises shortly after their injury or surgery.
As well as during rehab, sensorimotor performance is also crucial in the prevention of leg and knee injuries.
If you have suffered a cruciate ligament tear, your rehab really needs to be led by a physio.
They're the experts and can give you personal advice as to what training is right for you.
We recommend the following training:
Physio / Lower Extremities and Physio / Back to Sports
Health / Safe Everyday Life
Fitness / Basic Strength
