ACL Online Therapy for natural healing
The case reports of ACL natural healing
Patient Information:
44 years old, Male, Croatian
Mechanism of Injury:
On November 5, 2022, during a tennis match, he twisted his left knee. An MRI was performed on November 9, leading to the following diagnosis:
ACL Tear (Simple Complete Tear (Ihara Classification II))
Progress After Injury:
After the injury, he did not undergo physical therapy and rested. Starting from November 13, he began an online therapy program with our clinic and continued “Evo-Devo Exercises” at home for three months. On February 14, 2023, a second MRI was performed.
MRI Results:
The torn ACL had regained continuity. However, on the MRI, the ligament appeared pale and had not fully regained its thickness. He continued the “Evo-Devo Exercises,” and a third MRI was performed three months later.
MRI Results:
The ACL appeared darker and thicker compared to the previous MRI.
Subsequent Progress:
The ACL was deemed sufficiently healed, and the patient was cleared to return to sports. He gradually increased his activity levels and eventually played tennis at the same level as before the injury. However, around August 2024, he felt discomfort in his opposite (right) knee during tennis. He rested for a week, but the discomfort persisted even after resuming tennis. An MRI was conducted on October 1, 2024.
MRI Results:
The MRI showed a partial tear in the right ACL but retained continuity overall.
Discussion:
The initially injured left ACL healed naturally, and the patient returned to sports successfully. However, he subsequently injured the opposite ACL. Research suggests a significant likelihood of injuring the contralateral ACL after an initial ACL tear. This case underscores the importance of maintaining balance and minimizing asymmetry to prevent future injuries. Ongoing training to stabilize and balance the body is recommended.
References:
- Filbay, Stephanie R et al. “Healing of acute anterior cruciate ligament rupture on MRI and outcomes following non-surgical management with the Cross Bracing Protocol.” British Journal of Sports Medicine, bjsports-202
- Ihara H, Kawano T. Influence of Age on Healing Capacity of Acute Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2017 Mar/Apr;41(2):206-211. doi: 10.1097/RCT.0000000000000515.
- Roemer FW, Frobell R, Lohmander LS, Niu J, Guermazi A. Anterior Cruciate Ligament OsteoArthritis Score (ACLOAS): Longitudinal MRI-based whole joint assessment of anterior cruciate ligament injury. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2014 May;22(5):668-82. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2014.03.006.