The Cruciate Ligaments of the Knee:
ACL, MCL and PCL
Ross Hauser, M.D.
ACL
The anterior cruciate is frequently injured during sports such as
football, soccer, and basketball. The most common cause of isolated
ACL injury is a
deceleration, cutting movement. When an athlete is struck by another
player from behind and the outside, the
ACL and
medial collateral ligament
(MCL)
may both be injured. Injury is often accompanied by an audible "pop"
usually with, and occasionally without, pain. If this injury occurs
while bearing weight on the knee, the
meniscus is regularly
affected as well. The length and weight of downhill skis combined
with failure of the bindings to release during a fall are a common
cause of this type of injury during skiing, despite improved
equipment.
Untreated, relaxed, or
torn ACLs have
clearly been shown to lead to degeneration of the meniscus and
eventual degenerative
arthritis.
Whereas treatment of the ACL seems to save the meniscus and preserve
the joint from
osteoarthritis.
(Scott, W. Dr. Scott's Knee Book. New York, NY: Fireside, 1996,
p.75. Feretti, A. Osteoarthritis of the knee after ACL
reconstruction. Int Orthop. 1991; 15:367-371.)
Prolotherapy to the Knee
Prolotherapy is a
non-surgical alternative for sports related knee injury,
ACL, PCL, MCL, meniscus, and cartilage
PCL
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is also about two inches long.
It limits backward motion of the tibia, the large bone just below
the knee. It is uncommon to injure the PCL during sports. More
commonly, it is injured during a motor vehicle accident when the
knees hit the dashboard. A person who sustains a PCL injury without
other associated
ligament disruption will probably remain symptom
free. (Torg, J. Natural history of the posterior cruciate
ligament-deficient knee. Clinical Orthopaedics. 1989; 246:208-216.)
If pain does occur,
Prolotherapy to the two attachments of the PCL
inside the knee is effective at tightening these ligaments.
MRI
scans are quite inaccurate at
diagnosing cruciate
ligament injury. They are not as accurate as one would think in
differentiating between a complete tear and a partial tear. (Scott,
W. Dr. Scott's Knee Book. New York, NY: Fireside, 1996, p. 74.)
We have had plenty of occasions where the
MRI - (Knee Research Study)
showed extensive knee damage and
Prolotherapy
completely relieved
the pain. Obviously, the more extensive injuries in and around the
knee require more
Prolotherapy injections
per visit, and often an increased number of visits.
Of course,
surgery is repeatedly
recommended for torn cruciate ligaments. For anything except
complete rupture (grade 3 injury) of the anterior cruciate ligament,
avoid surgery if possible. The fact that there are so many ways to
perform the surgery is an indication that there is no one excellent
method.
Ross
Hauser, M.D.
Dr.
Hauser received his M.D. from the
University of Illinois, Chicago;
completed his residency at
Loyola-Hines VA-Marianjoy Hospitals
in Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation; and received his
Bachelor of Science degree from the
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign.
Dr.
Hauser is one of the leading experts
in the treatment of chronic pain and
sports injuries with
Prolotherapy.
He, along with his wife Marion, have
written seven books on the topic of
Prolotherapy, a comprehensive book
on the natural medicine approach to
cancer, as well as a myriad of
articles and newsletters for the
general public.
Read more
The Journal of Prolotherapy
Providing
new cutting-edge information
on Prolotherapy, as well as
provide a forum for
physicians and patients
alike to tell their stories.
Your membership fee includes
a 1 year subscription to
this quarterly journal, and
unlimited access to the
journal archives online!
FREE
Prolotherapy e-newsletter
Free weekly privacy
maintained newsletter on
Prolotherapy and other
non-surgical options for the
treatment of chronic pain.
The information on this website is presented
as information only and not a self-help
guide NOR AS SPECIFIC HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS. Never alter or change your
health management or begin any new health
plans without first consulting your personal
health care provider. Some
statements on this site regarding the value
of nutritional supplements have not been
evaluated by the FDA.
As with any
medical technique,
Prolotherapy may not be effective for every
individual and there are risks involved,
these risks should be discussed with your
physician. Results achieved with some may not be
typical of all. Please consult a physician.
Please read
Prolotherapy Risks
There is no known cure for arthritis.
Prolotherapy
and nutritional supplements can help
alleviate, reverse, or end arthritic pain by
treating an underlying cause that
contributes to degenerative disease,
ligament laxity. Strengthening ligaments and
other connective tissue can help prevent
bone on bone arthritis from developing.
Caring Medical
and Rehabilitation Services 715 Lake Street
Suite 600 Oak Park IL, 60301
Prolotherapy