ACL Tear

ACL Tear Care Near You in New Jersey

A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common and devastating injuries. It happens fast, often in the middle of a game, a run, or a routine movement. One wrong step, and suddenly your knee gives out from under you.

Luckily, with the right diagnosis and care, most people recover fully. At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, our orthopedic team provides expert ACL evaluation and treatment at multiple locations near you across New Jersey. Whether you need surgery or a non-surgical plan, we can see you quickly and help you get back to moving with confidence after an ACL tear.

Key Takeaways

The ACL is a ligament in the center of the knee that controls rotation and stability.
Tears most often happen during sports involving sudden stops, pivots, or jumps.
Not every ACL tear requires surgery, and the treatment depends on your activity level and injury severity.
The orthopedic team at Interventional Spine & Surgery Group specializes in ACL injuries and uses minimally invasive techniques to help you recover faster.

What Is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)?

The ACL runs diagonally through the center of the knee, connecting the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). It controls forward movement and helps your knee stay stable while rotating. When it doesn’t function properly, the knee becomes unstable.

ACL tears range from partial (a stretch or minor tear in the fibers) to a complete, or full, rupture. Complete tears are more common and often require a more aggressive treatment approach.

Common Causes of ACL Tears

Most ACL tears are non-contact injuries, meaning they happen without another person making direct impact with your knee. Instead, they occur when the knee is forced into an unnatural position, such as:

Suddenly slowing down and changing directions
Planting the foot and pivoting or rotating the knee
Landing awkwardly from a jump
Hyperextending the knee, or bending it backward beyond its normal range
Direct collision or blow to the knee, which can also cause a tear

Sports where you repeatedly jump, cut, or pivot, like soccer, basketball, football, skiing, tennis, and gymnastics, are common activities that cause ACL tears. However, some tears can occur during exercise, recreational activities, or everyday accidents.

Risk Factors and Activities That Can Lead to ACL Tears

Anyone can tear an ACL, but some factors raise your risk. Understanding these risks may help you reduce strain on the knee joint and avoid future injuries. Several physical and environmental factors can contribute to ACL tears, including:

High-impact sports
Poor landing mechanics
Weak hip or leg muscles
Previous knee injuries
Improper footwear
Sudden increases in training intensity
Uneven playing surfaces

Women also have a slightly higher risk of ACL injury because of anatomical and biomechanical differences that affect knee alignment and movement patterns. Additionally, athletes who skip training or flexibility work may place additional stress on the knee. Neuromuscular training programs that focus on proper landing technique and hip/glute strength can reduce your risk of ACL tears.

Signs and Symptoms of ACL Tears

ACL tears are dramatic and can happen suddenly. You will often notice symptoms immediately after the injury occurs.

One of the most common signs is a popping sensation in the knee at the time of injury. Swelling usually develops within the first several hours. Other symptoms may include:

Immediate, severe pain followed by rapid swelling (usually within a few hours)
Feeling of instability or the knee giving way
Loss of full range of motion
Difficulty bearing weight or walking normally

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a sudden pop with pain or swelling, or if your knee feels unstable after an injury. Don’t try to walk it off. Early diagnosis helps prevent worsening damage to the cartilage, meniscus, and surrounding structures.

Diagnosing an ACL Tear

Accurate diagnosis is important because several knee injuries can cause similar symptoms. A specialist evaluates your knee carefully to determine the extent of your injury and whether there is any additional damage.

At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, our evaluation begins with a detailed medical history and physical exam. We’ll discuss your symptoms, activity level, and how the injury happened. Then, we’ll check your knee stability, swelling, tenderness, range of motion, strength, and how you walk.

If we suspect you tore your ACL, we’ll also perform several clinical tests to assess your knee stability, including the Lachman test, Anterior Drawer test, and the Pivot-Shift test. These tests, which involve the doctor manipulating the knee from various positions, allow us to see whether your shinbone moves too far forward.

Then, we’ll order imaging. We start with an X-ray to rule out bone fractures. The gold standard for confirming an ACL tear is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This scan provides a clear view of the ligament and allows us to identify any other injuries to the soft tissues, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and meniscus.

Once we understand your injury, we can start creating a treatment plan. We tailor your plan to fit your injury, the condition of the surrounding structures, the health of your knee joint, and your goals.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for ACL Tears

Not every ACL tear requires surgery. For older adults, less active patients, or those with partial tears, a non-surgical approach can restore enough knee function for everyday life. This conservative approach focuses on reducing pain and improving strength and includes:

Rest and activity modification: Reducing or eliminating high-impact activity protects the knee from further damage.
Bracing: A knee brace provides external stability and reduces the risk of your knee giving out during daily activities.
Ice and anti-inflammatory medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, and icing help control swelling and pain.
Injections: Corticosteroid injections can provide targeted pain and inflammation relief. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are sometimes used to support healing in partial tears.
Physical therapy (PT): PT plays a major role in recovery. It helps strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee, including the quadriceps and hamstrings, which support joint stability. PT focuses on improving your range of motion, restoring balance, and rebuilding leg strength.

Some patients successfully return to low-impact activities without surgery. However, ongoing knee instability may increase the risk of future damage. If your knee is still unstable, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Surgical Treatment Options for ACL Tears

You may be a candidate for ACL surgery if you have ongoing instability, you’re an active athlete, or you have a physically demanding job. The standard procedure is ACL reconstruction.

During reconstruction, the torn ACL is replaced with a graft. This tissue is either taken from your own body (autograft) or a donor (allograft). At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, we do this surgery arthroscopically, using small incisions and a camera. This minimizes tissue disruption and supports a faster recovery. Your surgeon will position the graft inside carefully crafted bone tunnels and secure it in place. They’ll also repair other damage during the same procedure.

Recovery after ACL surgery takes time. Early recovery focuses on protecting your knee. As healing continues, your therapy will start to include strengthening, balance work, and sport-specific exercises. Many patients return to light activity within a few months. However, full recovery can take six to 12 months, especially if you’re planning to play competitive sports.

Why Choose Interventional Spine & Surgery Group?

Choosing the right surgeon for an ACL tear is important. At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, our patients benefit from orthopedic expertise and a patient-first philosophy. We offer coordinated care that focuses on both short-term pain relief and long-term function. We also prioritize fast access to care, as we know prompt treatment is important.

Dr. Sean Lager is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and minimally
invasive orthopedic procedures. He has experience in treating ACL tears and sports-related knee injuries
in children, athletes, and adults.

Dr. Lager completed a sports medicine fellowship at Union Memorial Hospital and worked with elite- level athletes, including the Baltimore Ravens and Division I college teams. He treats the full scope of knee injuries, and he does it with firsthand perspective. Dr. Lager sustained a knee injury and underwent surgery himself while competing as an NCAA Division I athlete. That experience shaped how he approaches patient care: with urgency, honesty, and a genuine understanding of what recovery asks of you.

At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, you get more than a skilled surgeon. You also get a team that manages your care from the first evaluation through your full recovery. We have physiatrists, pain management specialists, physical therapists, and orthopedists all under one roof. At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, we can see you now, we care, and we’ll help you get better.

Schedule Your ACL Evaluation Near You in New Jersey

If you think you have torn your ACL, don’t wait. Interventional Spine & Surgery Group provides comprehensive ACL tear treatment for patients across north and central New Jersey. Whether you need surgery or want to discuss your treatment options, our team is here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment near you in New Jersey.

Frequently Asked Questions About ACL Tears

Can an ACL tear heal on its own?

It depends. A complete ACL tear will not heal on its own without surgical intervention, but partial tears may improve with non-surgical care. Your surgeon will help evaluate whether you need surgery or not.

How long does it take to recover from a torn ACL?

Most patients return to full activity between six and 12 months after ACL reconstruction.

What happens if I don’t treat a torn ACL?

Untreated ACL tears can lead to chronic instability, cartilage damage, and additional knee injuries over
time.

How do I know if I tore my ACL?

Common symptoms include a popping sensation, swelling, instability, pain, and difficulty walking.

Is ACL surgery painful?

You may experience some minor discomfort after surgery. However, you should be able to manage it with icing, rest, and medications.

When can I walk after ACL surgery?

Most patients begin walking with crutches shortly after surgery and gradually increase weight-bearing
activity as healing progresses.

Will I need physical therapy after ACL surgery?

Yes. Physical therapy is one of the most important parts of ACL recovery and helps restore your strength and flexibility.

Can I return to sports after an ACL tear?

Many people successfully return to sports after completing rehabilitation and receiving clearance from their orthopedic specialist.