what is an acl tear

An ACL tear is an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. The ACL is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint, connecting the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia). ACL injuries most commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops or changes in direction, jumping and landing, such as soccer, basketball, football, and downhill skiing. The injury can occur if you get hit very hard on the side of your knee, overextend your knee joint, or quickly stop moving and change direction while running, landing from a jump, or turning. Many people hear a pop or feel a "popping" sensation in the knee when an ACL injury occurs. Other symptoms include knee swelling, instability, and pain that makes it difficult to bear weight. Treatment for an ACL tear will vary depending on the patients individual needs, but surgery is often required for young athletes involved in agility sports to safely return to sports.