What is the ACL?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a soft tissue structure of the knee that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the larger bone in the lower leg (tibia). It is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize your knee joint.
Symptoms
Patients describe feeling a “pop” or that their knee is giving way. Pain and swelling occurs rapidly. The athlete usually is not able to continue with the activity. In people with repeated ACL injuries, there is often damage to other structures in the knee which results in the development of arthritis.