The knee is a commonly injured
joint. Within recent years, the increase in ACL (anterior cruciate
ligament) injuries has been remarkable. Trauma to this ligament within
the knee can be serious, and injuries to it usually occur during athletic
activity. Click
here to read more about knee structure.
Why
are knee injuries so common?
The knee is particularly vulnerable to injury. It is the
joint between the two longest bones of the body, and the entire weight
of the body is transferred to the foot through the knee. The knee is also
more prone to injury because its stability decreases as it bends. The
menisci and the ligaments provide less effective support to the bent knee.
What does the inside of the knee look like and where is the ACL?
The knee joint contains
bones,
ligaments,
muscles tendons,
cartilage,
nerves, and blood vessels. A fibrous joint capsule made of collagen surrounds
the joint and encircles the end of each bone to give the knee stability.
