ACL injuries and the surgeries to treat them – ACL reconstructions – are some of the most common surgeries in sports medicine. In this Ask Dr. Geier video, I answer the question of a reader who wonders if he can play sports with a torn ACL and get surgery later.
Paul asks:
I am waiting to get an operation done for my anterior cruciate ligament, but at the moment I am able to run and kick balls around. Would I be able to play matches with a knee strap? I don’t know whether to risk it.
Generally the problem with an ACL injury is that the knee becomes unstable. It can give way with activities such as landing from a jump or changing directions while running. Those activities are critical for many sports.
In this video, I discuss how likely a patient can play contact or collision sports with an ACL-deficient knee. We also discuss whether a strap, sleeve or knee brace could help.
Also read:
ACL injuries: Rehab and return to sports
When can you return to sports after ACL surgery?
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