Dr. Ujjwal’s Quick Tips to Help Prevent ACL Injuries
Article Continued
Next, you should visit our same-day urgent care clinic, as we offer a faster and more personalized approach than an emergency room. There, we can confirm the exact nature of your injury. Our in-house X-ray service can rule out certain injuries, such as a bone fracture, and we can order additional testing to confirm a torn ACL. We can also get you situated with braces or crutches to help protect your knee in the early days of your injury. NEXT STEPS: HOW DO I TREAT AN ACL INJURY? There are two main ways to treat ACL injuries: • Conservative treatment involves extensive rehabilitation with a physical therapist, who will guide you through targeted exercises to improve the strength and mobility of your knee joint. • Surgical treatment involves undergoing an ACL reconstruction, a procedure in which a surgeon removes the damaged ligament and grafts a new one crafted out of ligament tissue from elsewhere in your body. The right treatment option for you will vary based on your injury’s severity and specific recovery goals. That said, surgery will likely be your best option if you’re an athlete whose sport requires a great deal of pivoting. In either case, we can refer you to a physical therapist and/or an orthopedic surgeon to ensure you get the best treatment for your needs. Furthermore, it’s important to understand that ACL injuries take a long time to fully rehabilitate, no matter your choice. While our team won’t guide you through the rehabilitation, we’ll provide additional support throughout the process. How Can I Prevent an ACL Injury? Taking the necessary steps to prevent an ACL injury is incredibly important, especially for athletes. Suffering one ACL tear increases the likelihood you’ll suffer another. It’s crucial that you get an annual sports physical to ensure you’re in the right condition to play your sport. Our sports physicals go into far more depth than a typical doctor’s appointment, including evaluating your musculoskeletal system for potential issues. If we notice anything, we can refer you to a sports performance specialist to address it! Whether you’ve just suffered an injury on the playing field or need to come in for your next sports physical, [site-name] is here to help. Call us today to get started.
ACL injuries can be a real game-changer—and not in a good way. The good news? Many ACL injuries can be prevented with the right training and habits. Here are my top tips to help you stay strong and stay in the game. Build Balanced Strength Strong quads are great, but don’t forget your glutes, hamstrings, and core. Balanced strength helps protect your knees during cutting, jumping, and landing.
Learn to Jump & Land the Right Way Many ACL injuries happen without contact. Focus on: • Soft landings • Knees staying in line (no collapsing inward!) • Using your hips, not just your knees
Good mechanics matter.
Train How You Cut & Change Direction Sports demand quick stops and sharp turns. Practicing safe cutting, deceleration, and balance helps reduce stress on the ACL. Respect Fatigue Injuries often happen when athletes are tired. Proper rest, recovery, and smart training go a long way in keeping you healthy. Start Prevention Early Young athletes—especially growing teens—benefit hugely from learning good movement early. Prevention is always easier than rehab. Final Word from Dr. Ujjwal ACL injuries aren’t just bad luck. With the right strength, movement training, and guidance, you can lower your risk and improve performance at the same time. Have questions or want to learn more about injury prevention? Our team is always happy to help.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! CALL US TODAY 703-289-0388
Stay active. Stay strong. Stay healthy.
— Dr. Ujjwal MMA & Sports Rehab
Virginia is a Direct Access state, you do not need a referral to see PT, just call us for a consultation. We can help you!
Made with FlippingBook Converter PDF to HTML5