Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common sports injury that usually occurs from an impact to the knee or a sudden twist of the leg. For example, it can happen if you get kicked on the side of the knee or land a twisted martial arts jump, like a butterfly twist or whirlwind kick, on a sticky floor. Find more injury-related information at Injuries Main.

Description: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

The knee is stabilized by two collateral ligaments and two cruciate ligaments. The collateral ligaments are on the sides of the knee, while the cruciate ligaments are inside the knee in an X shape, connecting the femur to the tibia. The two crossed ligaments inside the knee are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).

These ligaments are essential for knee stability. The ACL prevents the tibia from shifting forward beyond the femur and can be injured if the knee is twisted or suffers a side impact—usually from the outside.

In martial arts, ACL injuries can occur from:

• A direct kick to the knee
• A poorly landed side flip
• Slanted cartwheels without hands, where the foot hits the ground sideways
• Butterfly twists or whirlwind kicks on sticky surfaces with sticky shoes

Symptoms: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

• A popping sensation or sound at the moment of injury
• Severe pain, especially initially
• Swelling and inflammation
• Inability to fully extend the knee (see anterior drawer test, where you extend the leg against resistance)
• Tenderness on the medial side of the joint, which may also indicate meniscal damage

Who Is Susceptible: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

• Full-contact martial artists, especially when fighting Muay Thai fighters using low roundhouse kicks
• Trickers and extreme martial artists
• Football or rugby players (often hit from the side)
• Wrestlers, especially when thrown sideways

Treatment: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

1. Apply ice and a compression bandage shortly after the injury.
2. Consult a doctor to assess the severity of the ACL injury. A doctor may recommend:
   • Rehabilitation programs
   • Anti-inflammatory medication
   • Surgery (for active or younger patients)

ACL Surgery Procedure: Repair the torn ligament or replace it using a graft from another ligament in your body if the ACL is too short or stiff to reconnect.

Recovery Time After ACL Surgery: Between 5 and 9 months

Personal Experience: I once suffered an ACL injury landing an acrobatic twisted jump on one leg on sticky ground in China. I didn’t consult a doctor but was lucky—after 2 months I could walk again, after 3 months I could run, and after 4 months I performed my first jumps.

Trainer Advice: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

• Consult a sports injury specialist as soon as possible after the injury
• Warm up properly and use mats when learning acrobatic jumps
• Use knee supports if recovering from an ACL injury, and avoid risky techniques too soon

Related Topics

• Jumper’s Knee
• Osgood Schlatter Syndrome
• Side Flip
• Butterfly Twist
• Cartwheel Without Hands
• Learning Acrobatic Jumps the Safe Way

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