Chiropractic Care for Torn Ligaments
Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect the bones and the body. Their main job is to maintain a certain amount of movement between the bones. An injury can occur once the ligament is stretched too far from the bone or when the joint is suffering from a great deal of stress. If you’re suffering from a torn ligament, our chiropractor near Mt. Sinai, Dr. Sophia Argeropoulos, is ready to help.
The most common location for a torn ligament is in the knees and ankles due to the fact that they have to bear the most weight. Most doctors break down ligament injury into three grades:
- Grade one
- This being a mild injury to the ligament
- Usually is fully healed in a few weeks
- Grade two
- This being a moderate tear to the ligament
- Can take from 6 to 12 weeks to heal
- Could require you to wear a brace
- Grade three
- This being the complete tear
- Can limit your activity from 3 to 4 months or even a full year depending on the severity
- Can require surgery
How do I know I tore a ligament?
Depending on the area, you could experience various types of symptoms for a torn ligament. Generally, these symptoms could be pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. These symptoms are usually brought on by overstressing the ligament beyond its abilities. Since the ankle and knees are the most common locations of ligament injury, here are a few of the most common symptoms that may require you to make an appointment with our chiropractor near Mt. Sinai:
- Ankle
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Limited walking ability
- Stiffness
- Knee
- Swelling
- ‘Buckling’ of the knee
- This sensation is felt when trying to walk or stand
- ‘Popping’ sounds
- A popping sound can be heard sometimes when the actual injury is occurring
- Bruising
- Inability to walk or stand
Treatments a chiropractor near Mt. Sinai can implement:
It’s been found that seeking help for your ligament injury sooner rather than later can benefit you in the long run. The longer you wait to start treating your injury, the more likely you are to have a recurring issue, along with lingering pain in the area. Some of the benefits of seeking chiropractic help for a torn ligament include:
- Quicker pain relief
- Improving the quality of the resulting scar tissue
- Loosening and/or strengthening the injured area
- Correcting biomechanical faults
- Allowing you to get back to your sport or work faster
A torn ligament is an injury that requires attention. If you feel like you are suffering from any of these symptoms, make an appointment with Dr. Sophia Argeropoulos, our chiropractor near Mt. Sinai. The sooner you come in, the faster you’ll be on your way to recovery!