How To Test & Heal A Torn ACL Without Surgery

Summary

In this informative video, Dr. David Middoff, a specialist physical therapist, addresses the common issue of ACL tears. He reveals that MRI readings can be incorrect up to 40% of the time, leading to unnecessary surgeries. Dr. Middoff outlines three key signs to identify an ACL injury: clicking and popping, increased swelling with activity, and pain during a specific squat test. He also explains the different grades of ACL tears and advocates for natural healing methods, including wearing a supportive knee brace and strengthening exercises, as opposed to rushing into surgery. The video aims to empower viewers to take a more informed approach to ACL injuries, potentially avoiding invasive procedures.

Takeaways

• 🤕 MRI readings of ACL tears can be incorrect up to over 40% of the time, leading to potential unnecessary surgeries.
• 🧐 Three key signs of an ACL injury are clicking and popping in the knee, increased swelling with activity, and pain during a specific squat test.
• 🏥 The importance of seeking a professional diagnosis through an MRI and understanding the grades of ACL injury (Grade 1: mild sprain, Grade 2: partial tear, Grade 3: complete tear).
• 🛑 If you suspect an ACL injury, it's crucial to avoid aggressive testing or movements that could worsen the condition.
• 🦵 The role of a knee brace with metal brackets or hard plastic hinges in stabilizing the knee and facilitating natural healing without surgery.
• 💪 The necessity of strengthening the gluteal muscles to improve knee joint control and prevent future ACL injuries.
• ⏳ The healing process for an ACL injury can take time, often requiring the consistent use of a knee brace for six to twelve months.
• 📈 Wearing a knee brace consistently, as soon as possible after an injury, can significantly improve the healing process and confidence in the knee.
• 🚫 The potential downsides of ACL surgery, including infection, excessive scar tissue, loss of range of motion, and a lengthy recovery period.
• 💰 Considering the cost-effectiveness of using a knee brace compared to undergoing surgery, even when insurance is available.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The importance of aggressive strengthening exercises, especially focusing on the glutes, as part of the recovery process after the initial healing phase.

Q & A

What is the significance of an MRI in diagnosing a torn ACL?

An MRI is crucial for diagnosing a torn ACL as it provides detailed images of the knee's soft tissues, including the ACL. However, it's important to note that MRI readings can be incorrect up to over 40 percent of the time, leading to potential misdiagnoses.

What are the three signs that Dr. David Middoff suggests looking for to determine if you have an ACL injury?

The three signs are: 1) Clicking and popping in the knee, especially when off-weight, 2) Increased swelling with activity, indicating irritation and potential meniscus involvement, and 3) Pain or discomfort during a specific squat test that involves turning the feet inwards and squatting.

How does the ACL function within the knee joint?

The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is a major ligament that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It helps to maintain the stability of the knee joint by ensuring that the bones are properly connected and prevents them from moving out of place.

What are the different grades of ACL tears, and what do they indicate?

There are three grades of ACL tears: Grade one is a mild sprain with minor micro-tears, grade two is a partial tear with a good chance of healing, and grade three indicates a complete tear where the ends of the ACL are not connected.

When is ACL surgery recommended according to Dr. David Middoff?

ACL surgery is recommended in two main situations: 1) For professional athletes whose livelihood depends on their knee's stability, and 2) If all natural healing methods have been exhausted and the condition is not improving or is worsening.

What is the role of a knee brace in the natural healing process of an ACL injury?

A knee brace, especially one with metal brackets or hard plastic and hinges, provides stability to the knee joint, preventing further stretching or damage to the ACL. It helps control knee motion and is critical for the healing process without surgery.

Why is it important to strengthen the gluteal muscles in relation to ACL injuries?

Strengthening the gluteal muscles is important because weak glutes can contribute to ACL injuries. Proper glute strength leads to better control at the knee joint, which can protect the ACL from future injury.

What is the potential downside of ACL surgery according to the video?

The downsides of ACL surgery include possible infection, excessive scar tissue, loss of full range of motion, and a lengthy recovery period that can take over a year before returning to normal activities.

What is the recommended duration for wearing a knee brace after an ACL injury?

It is generally recommended to wear a knee brace for six to 12 months, depending on the activity level and how well the knee is healing. However, Dr. Middoff's personal experience suggests that going beyond the initial two-month recommendation could be beneficial.

What is the '28 Day Knee Health and Wellness Boost Program' mentioned in the video?

The '28 Day Knee Health and Wellness Boost Program' is an online program designed to teach participants how to exercise their legs to improve knee health and wellness. It provides detailed guidance on strengthening exercises and proper movement techniques.

How can one determine if their knee brace is appropriately sized and positioned?

The knee brace should be snug and supportive without being too tight. A good indication that it's appropriately positioned is when the kneecap sits in the hole provided in the brace.

What is the significance of the inward squat test mentioned in the video?

The inward squat test is a simple self-assessment that can indicate an ACL injury. If pain or discomfort is felt during the test, especially after already experiencing clicking and popping or swelling, it could be a sign of an ACL tear.

Outlines

00:00

🦵 Understanding ACL Tears: Common Signs and Symptoms

Dr. David Middoff, a specialist physical therapist, explains how MRI readings of ACL tears can be wrong up to 40% of the time, leading to unnecessary surgeries. He introduces three signs to identify ACL injuries: clicking and popping sounds in the knee, swelling with activity, and a specific test for ACL injury. He emphasizes the importance of avoiding surgery if possible and managing ACL injuries naturally.

05:00

🚶‍♂️ First Sign of ACL Injury: Clicking and Popping

Dr. Middoff describes the first sign of an ACL injury, which includes frequent clicking and popping sounds in the knee, especially when off-weighted or during simple motions like bending and straightening the knee. He explains the anatomy of the ACL and how a loose connection between the thigh and shin bones can cause these sounds, emphasizing that it might not always be painful but indicates potential ACL damage.

10:01

🦵 Second Sign of ACL Injury: Swelling with Activity

The second sign of an ACL injury involves increased swelling with activity. Dr. Middoff explains that if the knee swells more with increased activity and has clicking and popping sounds, it indicates a high chance of an ACL injury. He describes how swelling is the knee's response to instability and the potential development of a Baker's cyst due to excess fluid.

15:02

⚠️ Third Sign: Inward Squat Test

Dr. Middoff introduces a cautious test to identify ACL injuries by performing an inward squat. He advises holding onto a stable surface, turning feet inward, and squatting while leaning on the good leg. If increased pain or tightness occurs, it indicates an ACL problem. He warns against being aggressive during this test to avoid worsening the injury.

20:02

🔍 Types of ACL Injuries: Grades and Severity

Dr. Middoff explains the different grades of ACL injuries: Grade 1 (mild sprain), Grade 2 (partial tear), and Grade 3 (complete tear). He highlights that these grades are typically diagnosed through MRI and emphasizes that MRI is not the gold standard but the best non-invasive option. He discusses the gold standard of surgical observation and the circumstances under which ACL reconstruction might be necessary.

25:03

🤔 When to Consider ACL Surgery

Dr. Middoff outlines two situations where ACL surgery might be necessary: for professional athletes whose careers depend on knee stability and for individuals who have tried all natural healing methods without improvement. He stresses the importance of giving natural healing methods time before opting for surgery and describes the lengthy recovery process after ACL reconstruction.

💪 Healing ACL Injuries Naturally: Importance of Knee Braces

Dr. Middoff emphasizes the importance of using a knee brace with hinges to stabilize the knee and allow natural healing of ACL injuries. He recommends the Shock Doctor knee brace and explains how it helps reduce swelling and clicking. He advises wearing the brace consistently, even for months, to promote healing and avoid surgery.

🏃‍♂️ Long-term Use of Knee Braces for ACL Recovery

Dr. Middoff shares his personal experience with using a knee brace for a ligament injury, highlighting the importance of wearing it consistently for months. He describes how the brace helped him recover without surgery and advises others to follow a similar approach for ACL injuries, stressing the benefits of prolonged brace use.

🏋️‍♂️ Strengthening Exercises for ACL Recovery

Dr. Middoff discusses the importance of strengthening the glute muscles to protect the ACL from future injuries. He explains that dominant quad muscles without strong glutes can lead to ACL injuries and recommends exercises to improve glute strength. He mentions the 28-day Knee Health and Wellness Boost program for detailed guidance on leg exercises.

🔗 Conclusion: Healing ACL Injuries Naturally

Dr. Middoff summarizes the key points on healing ACL injuries naturally, including the use of knee braces and strengthening exercises. He encourages avoiding surgery if possible and emphasizes the effectiveness of natural healing methods. He also provides information on additional resources for managing knee health and invites viewers to check out related videos on meniscus injuries.

Keywords

💡ACL tear

An ACL tear is an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, a major ligament in the knee. This injury often occurs during sports and can be diagnosed through an MRI. The video discusses signs and symptoms of ACL tears, such as clicking and popping in the knee, increased swelling with activity, and pain during certain movements.

💡MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to visualize internal structures of the body. The video mentions that MRI readings for ACL tears can be incorrect up to 40% of the time, which can lead to unnecessary surgery. MRIs are often used to diagnose the severity of ACL injuries.

💡Swelling

Swelling is an increase in fluid in body tissues, often causing the area to become enlarged and tender. The video highlights swelling as a common symptom of ACL injuries, particularly after increased activity. Persistent swelling can indicate an ongoing issue with knee stability.

💡Meniscus tear

A meniscus tear is an injury to the cartilage in the knee that acts as a cushion between the thigh bone and shin bone. The video explains that meniscus tears often occur alongside ACL tears, leading to additional pain and swelling. This condition can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of ACL injuries.

💡Physical therapy

Physical therapy involves exercises and treatments to help patients regain movement and strength in injured areas. The video, presented by a specialist physical therapist, emphasizes physical therapy as a non-surgical option to heal ACL injuries naturally, focusing on strengthening and stability exercises.

💡Knee brace

A knee brace is a device worn around the knee to provide support and stability. The video recommends using a knee brace with hinges and metal brackets for those with ACL injuries to prevent further damage and aid in natural healing. Wearing a brace consistently can help manage symptoms and improve knee function.

💡Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)

The ACL is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint. It connects the thigh bone to the shin bone and prevents the knee from overextending. The video describes the ACL's role in knee stability and the impact of its injury, emphasizing the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment.

💡Grades of ACL tear

Grades of ACL tears classify the severity of the injury: Grade 1 (mild sprain), Grade 2 (partial tear), and Grade 3 (complete tear). The video explains these grades and their implications for treatment, noting that lower-grade injuries have a higher chance of healing without surgery.

💡Surgery

Surgery for ACL injuries typically involves reconstructing the torn ligament. The video discusses the circumstances under which surgery might be necessary, such as for professional athletes or when natural healing methods fail. It also outlines the potential risks and long recovery associated with ACL surgery.

💡Natural healing

Natural healing refers to non-surgical methods for recovering from injuries. The video advocates for natural healing approaches for ACL injuries, including using knee braces, physical therapy, and strengthening exercises. It emphasizes that many ACL injuries can be managed and healed without surgical intervention.

Highlights

MRI readings of ACL tears have been shown to be incorrect up to over 40 percent of the time.

Surgeons may recommend ACL surgery incorrectly more than 40 percent of the time based on MRI results.

Three key signs to look for in determining an ACL injury: clicking and popping, increased swelling with activity, and pain during a specific squat test.

Clicking and popping in the knee, especially when off-weight, can indicate an ACL tear.

Increased knee swelling with activity is a sign of potential ACL injury.

A specific squat test can help identify ACL issues, but should be approached with caution to avoid worsening the injury.

ACL injuries are categorized into three grades, with grade three indicating a complete tear.

Surgical observation is the gold standard for diagnosing ACL tears, but MRI is the best non-invasive method.

There are situations where ACL surgery may be necessary, such as for professional athletes or if natural healing methods fail.

Natural healing methods for ACL injuries can be effective and may prevent the need for surgery.

Wearing a knee brace with hinges and metal brackets can significantly aid in the natural healing of an ACL injury.

The importance of wearing a knee brace consistently during the healing process, even beyond the recommended time if necessary.

Strengthening the glute muscles can help protect the ACL and prevent future injuries.

A 28-day online program is available to guide individuals through exercises to improve knee health and prevent ACL injuries.

The potential for ACL tears to heal naturally with the right approach, avoiding the need for surgery and its associated risks.

The video provides a comprehensive guide on how to test for an ACL injury and the steps to take for natural healing without surgery.

Transcripts

have you suffered from a torn acl or do

you think that you might have a torn acl

most people know they have a torn acl

only after they've seen a doctor and had

an mri

but did you know that mri readings of

acl

tears have been shown in medical

research

to be wrong up to over 40 percent of the

time

this means that surgeons are

recommending acl

surgery over 40 percent of the time

incorrectly more on this later but in

this video today i'm going to explain to

you

three things that you need to look for

in your knee

so that you can determine if you've got

an acl injury and

also explain the different types of acl

tears different type of the grades

they call them grades and then what to

begin to do so that you can begin to fix

this acl injury on your own

naturally so that you can avoid having

surgery i'm dr david middoff and i'm a

specialist physical therapist and owner

of el paso manual physical therapy

this channel is focused on making videos

to help you stay healthy active and

mobile

while avoiding unnecessary surgery

injections and medications

be sure to hit subscribe and turn on

your notifications

so that you don't miss any helpful tips

that we put out each week now let me

tell you three things

that you can do to find if your acl

is hurt and then begin to find out how

bad it is for you

number one clicking and popping is a

very common sign

of a torn or sprained acl

now the way this works is it's frequent

it's not just like you get one big pop

or clunk although that might happen

um but if you everybody's knees pop and

click at times

and it's does it doesn't necessarily

mean that you have an acl

tear an acl injury what you're looking

for is

especially if you're off-weighted like

you don't have your full weight through

your leg

like right now i'm going to lean more on

my left leg but i'm bending and

straightening my right knee

if you can do that kind of a motion or

if you're sitting down and you

move your leg around and you feel like

there's a clunk in there that wasn't

there

you know before you injured it or before

it started to get worse

that's a sign that you have a torn or an

injured acl

and just to show you how this works let

me get my

knee joint here the acl ligament is

called the anterior cruciate ligament

it's a big

ligament that connects the thigh bone

this is the thigh bone

to the shin bone and the angle of it is

kind of like this it goes inward this is

the inside of the knee and the outside

of the knee

and it's very important at making sure

that the bones are connected best so if

you've got an

injury to that and you go to bend your

knee it just the connection is kind of

loose

and the joint clunks within itself with

simple easy motions

it tends to actually click and pop less

if you're doing more active stuff it

tends to pop and click

more when you're just sitting around

moving your leg or you know some people

will kick their foot or they'll shift

positions to cross their legs or shift

their weight over

and then they get an uncomfortable click

or pop that's

what you're looking for that's more the

the typical signs of

the clicking and popping sounds that the

knee can generate and it's not always

painful it can be completely pain-free

in some situations

sometimes it is painful as well it just

depends on how severe

the acl tear is and if there's anything

else involved like a meniscus tear that

that can

often happen along with an acl tear the

second sign that you're looking for

is increased swelling with activity

so if you've got your acl injury for a

while you suspect it it's been there for

several weeks or months

some people have even dealt with it for

years before they decide to do something

about it

if you're up on your feet more so you're

doing chores around the house or you go

to exercise or you just have a day where

you're

on your feet more out doing errands or

something

if you notice that your knee swells more

with more activity that you do

and you've also got that clicking and

popping that i'm talking about

that's a high sign a combination of

those two signs

there's a high chance that you've got an

acl injury

and the connection between the two bones

here the thigh bone and the the shin

bone

the femur in the tibia are loose and

it's starting to irritate the tissues

inside often the meniscus gets irritated

and that's why you can get a meniscus

tear in addition to an acl tear

if that looseness doesn't get resolved

then

you start to get swelling you can have

increased fluid in the joint

sometimes the doctors will want to go

and take out the fluid

that fluid's there for a reason it's

your knee joint responding to the loss

of stability

and so the fluid increase the fluid

increases inside

so that you can develop a cushion on the

knee sometimes you can even turn into a

baker cyst which

where there's like a puffiness on the

back of the knee

they call it a baker's cyst but really

it's just the the knee joint capsule the

ligaments on the back of the knee that

have stretched out

because of the excess fluid that's

building up inside

so that the knees in in the knees effort

to protect itself

now the third sign this one's a test and

i gotta warn you before i show this to

you

it very well might hurt your knee it

might make you worse

so be very cautious in proceeding and

doing this

in fact just watch it first and if you

know that this is going to hurt you

don't even try it

you know if you are not that bad you

feel like you can bend and straighten

out your knee decently well

then you can attempt this as soon as you

start to feel any increased pain

increased tightness is also another sign

then i want you to back off and just

assume that this test

is showing you that you've got a torn

acl or an acl

problem so please do not be aggressive

do not force yourself to this test

it's not designed for you to just crank

on your knee and and

take it through all it's got you're

gonna really tear it and mess it up um

so

that being said i'm gonna show you how

to be very safe during this test what

you need to do

is find a place that you can stand

and hold on to something stable like a

wall or a kitchen counter or something

a desk a sturdy chair not not a computer

chair that swivels or we

has wheels on anything can move around

find a piece of furniture or a wall that

that's very stable

you're going to hold on to that i'll

show you here in a second what my feet

are doing

you're going to hold on to that with

your hands and then you're going to turn

your feet inwards

as far as they'll go and then you're

going to squat with your knees inwards

and what i want you to do before you

even try this is lean over to your good

leg your leg that

isn't hurt the one that that seems okay

and try to put more body weight on that

side maybe like 75 percent and then 25

on on the knee that does bother you and

as you bend with your knees inward if

you start

do it slow if you start to feel

increased tightness

increase pain do not go all the way down

you might just

even unlock your knees a little bit and

already feel it back up and that's

that's a good sign that you've got an

acl injury

you don't need to go any further so let

me show you what this looks like on my

legs

all right so for the purposes of this

video i don't have something to hold on

to but luckily i don't have any knee

injuries

so i'm going to turn my feet all the way

in just like so

and you're going to squat down and if

you already start to get pain or

tightness in the knee that bothers you

you're done test is over if you also

have the clicking and popping and the

swelling like i talked about

do not proceed you can have pretty good

confidence you have an acl injury

but if you are not that bad and you want

to take a little bit further of course

hold on to something steady and

you can go down as much as it's

comfortable and then come back up out of

it

now i wouldn't do this test more than

two or three times

just because you can aggravate an acl

that's already injured

and make it worse if you know that

there's stiffness and tightness if

you've got the clicking and popping if

you've got the swelling that comes on

the more you're on your feet

then you can be pretty certain that you

have an acl injury

which brings us to the next point let's

talk about the different types of acl

injuries

there's three grades grade one means

that it's a mild

sprain sprain meaning the the ligament

itself got a little over stretched and

it's not torn necessarily maybe there's

tiny micro tears

but it has a good chance at healing and

and

shortening back up to its usual length

so that the joint is tight the way it's

supposed to be

and you're not loose and the bones

aren't wobbling on each other

grade two is where it got overstretched

and there's some tearing happening it's

a partial tear

that has an excellent chance of healing

you've got to make sure that you take

care of the stability so that you're

you're not all

wobbly in your knee and which might mean

strengthening i'll talk about some other

stuff that you can do as well

but you have an excellent chance at

healing if you've got that kind of tear

and by the way these grades are usually

given to you after you've

had an mri and the doctor's taking a

look at you they'll they'll tell you the

grade or on the mri report itself if you

end up having an mri

it will likely say on there about your

acl if you've got a grade one

two or three or there's other options

too like um an avulsion

is is where the bone is ripped off the

acl actually didn't tear the bone broke

where the acl attaches that's a bad

situation obviously you want to probably

talk to your doctor if that's going on

and you'll know that your knee will not

be normal at all not anywhere near

normal

but back to what i was saying grade

three means there's a complete

tear the ends of the of the acl

are not connected anymore now all this

is usually diagnosed through an mri

which is not the gold standard at

looking

into a knee but it's the best thing that

we can do without actually opening your

knee up because that is a gold standard

surgical observation of the acl

to determine if it's torn or not is the

gold standard but of course

that's invasive that means you have to

get cut open and you have to look

at your knee usually with an arthroscope

meaning that you know they make little

holes they're not like

busting your knee open like a book but

either way you don't want to have

an exploratory surgery just to determine

if your acl is torn

if a surgeon's going to go in to look at

your acl chances are they're going

they're planning on doing a repair and

if there's any sort of laxity any sort

of

partial tear it's right for them it's

you know

they're going to make the best judgment

call they're the surgeons of course to

actually

tear your acl if it's not already torn

and surgically repair it to further

tighten it down

but i would ask the question of was that

the smart thing to do to begin with to

put yourself in the situation

where you're under the knife and having

an acl reconstruction that you

possibly could have avoided had you done

the right things

that i'm going to talk to you about as

we go on in this video now remember what

i said the beginning

there's research out there that shows

that acl tears can be

misread on an mri over 40

of the time now there's some issue

studies that show as low as a three

percent error but there's some that show

over 40 percent error we don't have a

hundred percent

knowledge of where exactly the range is

but that's high enough to

possibly get away with not having the

surgery done

and what you need to know is if you

think about yourself functionally like

what are you doing right now

is your knee so swollen that you can't

bend it or straighten it

or you can't put weight on it you just

you've been like that for a while

if you're bad if you have not gotten any

better

over the past few weeks then

you might consider having a surgery

there's really just two situations

where you should have surgery in my

humble expert opinion

and you've got to take this with a grain

of salt you've got to

think about your current situation that

you're in what you plan to do in the

future there's there's a lot to factor

in and you just have to think about it

and sit down and

not just take every surgeon's word as

gospel and think well that's what i got

to do

the surgeon you can probably get better

in

many situations if you've got an injured

acl even if it's completely torn

one reason when you should have an acl

tear is if you're a

professional athlete meaning you're

getting paid

to do a sport or some sport related

activity

and your job depends on your knee

being stable then i would highly

consider having an acl surgery

if i was a professional football player

basketball player

whatever sport athlete and i was making

some decent money doing that

i would highly consider having an acl

reconstruction for the peace of mind

that i'm not going to retear it real

soon with my knowledge i'd know how to

rehab it and make sure that it's not

going to happen again but

acl tears happen accidentally sometimes

the second situation

where i would recommend an acl surgery

is

if you have truly done everything that

you can to

heal it naturally to prevent it from

getting any worse and you're just

not getting anywhere you feel like it's

plateaued or it's even getting worse

then that's a situation where you

probably should consider having

an acl reconstruction now if it's just

been a few weeks since you

first hurt your acl like if you had an

incident where somebody fell into your

leg or you stumbled and fell and

especially if you heard a pop that's

usually a sign that you have a complete

tear

not always though it could be the joint

popping or other structures popping but

if you

have the classic acl tear the massive

one where it pops it swells

you're on crutches for a while the the

mri shows that you have a tear

um then there's things you can do to

heal it naturally but

if it's just not getting better you've

tried it for you tried rehabbing it for

months

i would say give it some time give it

some months because you can have an acl

reconstruction

years after you don't have to have it

right away it's not like there's an

important window of time

and if you don't have your surgery

within that time frame

you miss out on your window to ever heal

properly it is good to get that swelling

down because that'll allow your knee to

move better

allow the ligament to heal if there's a

chance of it healing

and any other tissues inside your knee

like cartilage and meniscus

tendons muscles all the other stuff that

are around the area to heal

and give you a chance at rehabbing your

knee

rehabilitating your knee naturally so

that you never

have to have a surgery and deal with

some of the side effects like an

infection

some people have excessive scar tissue

that doesn't let their knee joint move

right

and then there's some people that regret

having the surgery because they never

get their full range of motion back

and they just don't feel the same in

their knee as it was before

and what a lot of people don't know

because surgeons aren't always the most

accurate at telling them is after you

have

an acl reconstruction a lot of surgeons

say oh yeah you'll be back to

walking and up and running doing you'll

be fine within a few months and the

reality is

it takes a year sometimes longer it's

rare that somebody is

back to sport in less than a year

occasionally you hear about some freak

professional athlete that did it in nine

months but they're

really the exception most people take

over 12 months to get back to feeling

mostly normal you've got to get all the

motion after your knee bend

after the you've got to get all your

motion back after the surgery you've got

to get your strength back

it's a process you're going to be on

crutches for a while

you'll be wearing a big giant

uncomfortable brace for a while as well

and you're going to lose tons of muscle

on that leg there's just all these side

effects

if you need it you need it but if you

can get away without it you might

actually recover quicker than if you

have the surgery and deal with the

recovery

after the surgery so let me tell you

what you should be doing

if you're going to heal this thing

naturally i've got

a knee brace here and

something like this is critically

important for you to be in

if you've had an acl injury if you did

those three tests that we looked at

if you've got the clock the clicking and

popping you've got the swelling if

you've been on your feet too long you

did that inward

squat and your knee hurts or it feels a

little worse after doing that

then this is going to help you out

tremendously now

this is the shock doctor knee brace it's

got these brackets

these hinges on the inside and these

hinges right here and metal brackets on

the side

you need something significant you won't

get by very well if you just have a

basic neoprene sleeve brace that doesn't

have any sort of hinges on the side

the hinges are critically important

because think about it your

knee just lost the

best source of stability from a ligament

inside of it

it's all loose now that's why you're

swelling and clicking and popping

that's why you can't squat normally

because it just isn't stable so

get that knee brace on so that those

metal brackets

force it to move in a way that isn't

going to further stretch out your acl

and make the problem worse these knee

braces

are not that expensive at all they range

anywhere from

50 to 100 bucks and basically you know

i recommend this one to my clients

because it lasts

about what you need to heal it most of

the time and these last thing were from

six to 12 months depending on how active

you are how much you use them

um you know what what environments

you're in how sweaty you get all those

different things

um and even if you have to buy a second

one it's not that bad because you wore

out the first one

but you can spend more money and get a

more expensive brace if you need to

generally what you're paying for

with these braces is better quality

materials but the baseline that you need

is some sort of metal brackets or they

sell hard plastic too that works

with a hinge so that your knee motion is

very controlled as you're going through

now you've got to wear this you can wear

it under your clothes or over your

clothes depending on you know how tight

your clothes are

hopefully it's winter time wherever

you're at or it's not too hot because

these things get sweaty

and you've just got to deal with that

and they slide down your leg

but that's normal there i've never seen

a brace even the high end braces that

just stay put and never slide down your

leg

so you've just got to deal with the

issues with wearing the brace

the benefits of it are far gonna

outweigh

the downside to using the brace clients

that have used these of course when i

see them day to day as they're coming in

for their treatments they tell they talk

to me about how the brace thinks at the

end of the day

they've got to slide the metal brackets

out and throw the washing machine or

they hand wash it like almost every day

it gets so stinky you know they just got

to deal

with issues surrounding the brace but

they're also telling me

my knee seemed a little bit better it's

clicking and popping less i didn't swell

over the past

week i feel more confident in my knee i

feel like i i went up and down the

stairs

and i didn't have to hold onto the rails

so much and gradually over time

their acl is getting healthier happier

and they're on their way

to rehabbing their acl problem without

ever having a surgery

even grade threes we've seen people that

have had completely torn acls as shown

by a an mri obviously

um they've come to us and i'll do my

tests that healthcare professionals

do to the patients to to check their

acls and i've seen some people with some

what i thought were completely torn acls

do this wear the brace and there's

exercises that we have them run through

which

is secondary really this is the the main

thing um

they have gotten better they've gotten

out of crutches they've gotten back to

walking normally being on their feet

back to even exercise i'm talking like

running and weightlifting

and it's even necessary once they're

healthy enough to do that

so that they can make their acl stronger

so it doesn't tear

or get stretched out again so i can't

stress enough how important it is

if you get an acl injury or an acl tear

and you're looking to fix it without

surgery

get in one of these braces as soon as

possible

i've linked in the description below a

link to this brace on amazon

like i said they're running anywhere

from 50 to 100

and one thing to note about the shock

doctor brand um this is probably an

older mod

model than what's out now this is the

872. there's newer versions of this out

there and they

all they generally do a good job of

updating their their braces

but what i found on the sizing chart is

you should if you look at on on amazon

at the

sizing chart or on their website go up a

size

from what the sizing chart would tell

you to get

that's i've consistently found that if

the sizing chart tells you to get a

large get an extra large or if it's an

extra large get an x large

i've never seen anyone if anyone fit

into a smaller medium

it's probably more for children the

small in the medium but most people need

at least a large if not an extra large

or a double or triple extra large

that's pretty common and then um you

know these straps they go around there's

instructions on how to put this

on and just make sure that your kneecap

is sitting in this hole that's that's

how you can judge

that this the knee brace is on your leg

appropriately

and um you know i had an injury a while

back i used one of these braces myself

it took me like 10 months to use the

brace

and me personally i had a ligament

injury wasn't my acl it was

it was a different ligament in my knee

on my right knee from running

um they told me to stay in the brace for

two months and this is a big deal you

got you gotta listen to this thoroughly

because

if you're looking at truly fixing your

acl problem naturally without surgery

you might need to go beyond what the

recommendations make now i was told

two months is necessary and if it

doesn't work if you don't get the

stability you need if you don't heal

enough

from your ligament injury then you

should consider getting surgery at that

point

well after two months of wearing the

knee brace consistently and i'm talking

and this is how you should wear it by

the way as soon as i woke up in the

morning

i take it off to sleep but as soon as i

woke up in the morning this knee brace

was on me i wouldn't take

more than two steps to reach for my knee

brace and i'd get it on before i went to

the bathroom or took care of other

things in the morning

you know i didn't shower with it

obviously but um i had this on

pretty much anytime i was on my feet

inside the house outside the house

gradually as it got better i began to

exercise with it as well

but i wore this knee brace pretty

consistently i'd say about

97 of the time whenever i had my

ligament injury

and that's what i recommend that you do

as well i would just slip it off to

relax or to sleep at night or

obviously to take a shower now going

beyond the recommendation

after two months of wearing this knee

brace

i felt 30 better

i still felt my knee injury i was still

getting some swelling myself i had a

a posterior posterior lateral corner

tears what i had so you can look that up

it's it's a

treatment is very similar to as if you

had an acl injury

but um after two months i said well why

not go a third or fourth month i

i'm willing to go as long as i need to

if this is still making me better

why not i don't want surgery so i went a

third month and a fourth month and i

would just check myself

after every month and i found that it

was a little better and it was a little

better

and i was still walking around i have

kids i was taking care of my kids i was

working i'm a physical therapist i'm on

my feet quite a bit

i was being active not as active as i

was when i was exercising of course but

but i'm out doing stuff outside the

house and inside the house

and it took me 10 months total before

i got to the point where i said i don't

need this anymore i can do just fine

without

and the last few months i was weaning

myself off i wasn't in it as much i was

i was having a day in a day out of it

then i went two days without it and so

forth i just kept winging myself

off the brace gradually as i felt

comfortable in my knee

if my knee did not feel comfortable i

felt like i was getting any sort of

swelling

any sort of issues in my knee then i was

back in the brace

now you might be looking for exercises

on fixing an

acl injury and there's tons there's

endless amounts of exercises

if you're looking for more tests on

checking an acl injury especially the

ones that like doctors do or

knee specialists do there's there's tons

of tests out there but if you've got

these signs that i told you about that

the

clicking and popping the swelling in the

knee the uh the inward squat is painful

you probably have an acl tear and

getting one of these is super

affordable relatively easy to do it

doesn't hold you in your life

it can make a huge difference it might

save you from surgery so

you know paying 100 bucks for one of

these much much better than paying

thousands and thousands or even if you

have insurance and they cover your

surgery you start to pay deductible

likely

but not to mention all the rehab that

you have to go through after

a uh an acl reconstruction it's it's

pretty gruesome if you ever talk to

anybody that has had one or

or if you look up videos on somebody

that's going through it it is pretty

gruesome

this is a much easier much affordable

just

such a much better option than if you

have to have an acl reconstruction

surgery

so that is how you can heal from an acl

injury naturally you got to get

in a brace like this now like i said i

have this linked in the description

below

i don't care if you get this one get

just get something with hinges and some

stiff

struts some stiff supports on the side

could be metal it could be plastic

you decide what's best for you what's

best for your pocketbook

what fits best on your body as well and

get in a brace i've got one more thing

for you that i want to share about

fixing your knee naturally now let's

just say

you use the knee brace and you're

feeling better and better or maybe

you're not that bad

right now and any brace is good from

time to time but you're actually

improving quite a bit

then what needs to happen next that you

can heal naturally without surgery

is you've got to get into some

aggressive strengthening

and what i've got to ask you is do you

have

very big quads do you have dominant quad

muscles i'm talking about the muscles on

the front of the thigh

if you have a history of exercising you

feel like you always feel your quads

burning or they're tired they get sore

often especially

if you do jumping sports or

weightlifting like squats deadlifts

those kinds of things

and what i have to ask you is do you

ever feel your glutes get sore

if you don't feel your butt muscles get

sore

then that is likely what set you up to

have your acl

injury and you've got to begin

strengthening your glutes to get better

control at the knee joint

so that you can protect your acl from

future injury

i know that was kind of a lot of hoops

to jump through but trust me we help

people with this problem

all the time and what it almost always

comes back to

is proper glute strength and good

movement using the glutes

when it comes to leg activities like

running jumping squats

any kind of leg exercise or activity if

you're looking for more guidance on this

we go into great detail about it in our

28 day

knee health and wellness boost program

you can find the link about it in the

description below but just to give you

the the gist of it

it's a 28-day 100 online program that

you can do at your pace

where it's me teaching you details about

how to exercise

your legs to improve your knee health

and boost its wellness

so check that out when you get a chance

guys thanks so much for watching if you

thought this video was helpful give it a

like

and one more thing if you also have a

meniscus injury and you want to learn

about how to heal a meniscus tear and

how to check for it

check out our video about how to test

and heal a meniscus problem without

surgery

have a wonderful day bye