Intensive physical therapy should be under consideration for people who have partially torn the band of tissue that runs through the middle of the knee joint and keeps the shinbone from sliding forward, according to the column penned by a doctor.
More commonly known as the ACL, yet scientifically termed the anterior cruciate ligament, the band typically tears during sudden, awkward twists, turns and stops, the column on GoErie.com states. As many as 200,000 ACL injuries occur each year in the U.S., most often through skiing, football and gymnastics.
"Surgery could still be an option down the road. Physical therapy can strengthen the muscles around your knee enough so they compensate for the non-working ACL. A knee brace could protect your ACL during an occasional tennis or soccer game," the column states.
Forgoing surgery and working with people who hold physical therapy jobs instead could enable an active lifestyle in as few as two months, the column states.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapy jobs are forecast to grow 39 percent in the 10-year period leading up to 2020.