ACL-Hell
Back in November I wrote about the trials/tribulations of my lingering knee injury and the implications of the self-diagnosed cartilage inflammation. For those that missed the last instalment, it was just before I had an MRI. Post-scan, it turns out that while I do have mild myxoid change (whatever that means) within the menisci of my left knee, the more pressing issue is the partial tear to my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Unfortunately, I am still navigating the exasperating bureaucracy of the National Health Service (NHS) and have yet to secure an initial consultation with a specialist. Despite my frustrations, I thought this would be a good time to profile one of the most common sporting injuries — the torn ACL.
The ACL is a tough band of ligament that joins the thigh bone to the shin bone at the knee joint. It runs diagonally through the inside of the knee and keeps the knee joint stable. It is a notoriously fickle ligament, and prone to failure at the precise times that it is needed most — hyperextension and stress of the knee.
ACL injuries are often discussed when a prominent sports person suffers a blowout. Notable athletes that have torn their ACL include Michael Owen, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods and Lindsay Vonn. As you can tell from the list, ACL injuries pop up everywhere, and can occur in any sport that requires a significant change in direction.
That said, ACL injuries are as much a mainstream problem as the preserve of professional athletes. As I alluded to in my original blog, the rise of mass participation endurance events and uptake of extreme fitness regimes is putting increased pressure on the nation’s joints. Whether this manifests itself in cartilage or ligament problems, it is certainly causing an uptick in knee injuries. Indeed, it is estimated that that as many as 100,000 ACL injuries occur each year, of which 17,000 occur in the UK.
In doing a bit of research around ACL tears, one of the first things to note is that I have got away lightly. A partial tear is not great, but oh my days, I can tell you now that it is nowhere near as painful a full ligament blowout. A quick search on YouTube reveals an odd cult of people who rejoice in slow-motion, high-definition replays of severe injuries, with the ‘Worst NBA Injuries Of All Time’ being the highlight. Among them is many ACL compilations. There have been some brutal ACL tears through the years.
The second thing to note is that there have been some incredible ACL recovery stories. Going back to the list of celebrity injuries, the latter two, Woods and Vonn, have arguably the most interesting yet divergent experiences in dealing with an ACL tear.
Woods famously managed to win the 2008 US Open on a broken leg, but at the same time he also had a torn ACL. His performance is golfing folklore, and as an avid fan who watched it live I can attest to it being an unbelievable spectacle. Wincing and limping between shots, he was clearly in considerable pain, but his determination and god-like putting stroke pulled him through. The victory will go down one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time, but he has paid the ultimate price as his body (and private life…) collapsed in the years after. Woods has endured a range of subsequent injuries, is currently ranked 426th in the Official Word Golf Rankings and has not won a major since the legendary 2008 season.
Whilst Woods has not been the same since, Vonn has recorded one of the most inspiring ACL comeback stories in recent times. In 2013 Vonn tore, recovered, then re-tore her ACL. Speaking of brutal injury videos, her wipeout at the World Championships, which caused the first tear, is pretty horrific. The second tear/surgery ruled her out of the 2014 Winter Olympics and put on hold a glittering skiing career that had her rapidly advancing towards G.O.A.T. status. But she came back. Vonn returned to competitive skiing in January 2015, nearly a year after the second surgery, and has gone on to break a number of records. Just earlier this month, she set a new record for the number of women’s World Cup downhill victories, with her 37th such win.
Her performances since returning have been remarkable, but what is more impressive are the details of her recovery. In reading up on Vonn’s injuries I came across a documentary — made by her sponsor — which timelines her comeback. What is apparent is her sheer grit and determination to overcome her injury. In the eight months after her first crash she did 9,740 squats! Coincidentally, it is understood that Woods and Vonn, who dated between 2012 and 2015, bonded over their respective ACL injuries and the gruelling rehab process. Sounds romantic.
Reading (see below) and watching Vonn’s recovery has really made me think about what I can do to strengthen my ACL before/without surgery. I realised that while I have been thinking a lot about my knee, I have not necessarily been giving it the best protection. From speaking to (the surprising number of) my friends who have had knee problems, they all emphasised the importance of giving the knee the best chance to look after itself. That means supporting it through the glutes, thighs and calves. I have not been that proactive in building strength in my legs but I think it is time to channel my inner Lindsay.
P.S. Below is a really good infographic detailing Vonn’s recovery from her knee injuries. Read it through. She is an absolute beast.
