The ACL is a ligament that runs behind the knee between the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shin bone). Strains can act as a wake-up call to strengthen your legs once you get your body back to pre-injury condition.
Causes: According to Camp, most ACL strains can be attributed to sudden deceleration, like trying to stop on a dime and cut in another direction, or from hyperextension of the knee or pivoting in place. Several sports regularly bring sources of stress like this down on the ACL, so if you’re not quite prepared for the fitness it takes to play a sport like basketball or soccer, you could put yourself at risk by throwing yourself out there.
Rehab Tips: Camp says your top priority needs to be strengthening your hamstrings. Building up your quads and glutes is also important. He says that active recovery should start with “heel slides with a weight, straight leg raises in various positions… side stepping with a resistance band and [various] hamstring exercises.”
