ACL tear: symptoms and diagnosis
From anatomy to diagnosis: reliable guidance to understand what may have happened, prepare for appointments, and recognise urgent situations.
8 guides
Guides, one step at a time
Three guideposts to help you get your bearings before going into detail.
8 guides
Anatomy and role of the anterior cruciate ligament
Where the ACL is located, how it stabilizes the knee and why a rupture is more than just a "broken" ligament.
Learn moreHow does an ACL rupture occur?
Pivots, deceleration, landings and contact: understanding the mechanism without looking for a single culprit.
Learn moreSymptoms of an ACL tear
Cracking, swelling, pain, and instability: what these signs may indicate and their limitations.
Learn moreThe first days after a suspected ACL tear
Protect the knee, soothe symptoms, and prepare for an evaluation without immobilization or risky self-medication.
Learn moreWarning signs after a knee injury
Situations that justify an urgent consultation or quick medical advice.
Learn moreClinical examination of a knee with a suspected ACL tear
Interview, mobility, and stability tests: how the clinical diagnosis is constructed.
Learn moreMRI and imaging in ACL rupture
What X-rays and MRI scans show, when they are useful, and why an image does not dictate treatment.
Learn moreMeniscus, cartilage and other associated injuries
An ACL tear may be accompanied by injuries that change symptoms, urgency and treatment.
Learn moreGuidance to inform you, not a decision made for you
Symptoms, sporting goals, associated injuries, and responses to treatment vary. Assessment by a healthcare professional remains essential.
Move from diagnosis to treatment options
Once the situation is clearer, learn how treatment options are considered with your care team.
Continue to