An ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear is one of the most common and serious knee injuries, particularly in athletes and active individuals. Whether you’re recovering from surgery or managing a partial tear conservatively, rehabilitation is crucial to restoring knee function and strength as well as preventing future injury.
While chiropractors don’t repair ACL tears surgically, chiropractic care can play a valuable supportive role in the recovery process. By addressing surrounding joint and muscular imbalances, chiropractors help patients move more efficiently.
What Is an ACL Tear?
The ACL is one of the major ligaments that stabilises your knee. ACL injuries usually happen during sports that involve sudden stops, pivots, or changes in direction eg. soccer, basketball, and rugby. These injuries range from mild sprains to severe complete ruptures, and symptoms often include:
- A popping sound at the time of injury
- Pain and swelling
- Instability or a “giving out” sensation
- Limited range of motion
Complete ACL tears often require surgical repair, especially in active patients. Partial tears or low-demand cases may be treated conservatively with rehab and bracing.
This is where chiropractic care may come in.
How Chiropractors Can Help
While chiropractors don’t treat the ACL tear directly, they can help with rehabilitation, biomechanical corrections, and pain management. Here’s how:
- Spinal and Extremity Adjustments
After an ACL injury, your body often compensates by altering how you move—leading to imbalances in your hips, pelvis, spine, or the opposite leg. Gentle adjustments and mobilisations can help restore normal joint function
- Soft Tissue Therapy or Dry Needling
Muscles around the knee often tighten up to protect the joint after injury. Chiropractors may use techniques like:
- Myofascial release
- Trigger point therapy
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation (IASTM)
- Trigger point Dry needling
These can reduce tension in the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and IT band—promoting better movement and function.
- Rehabilitative Exercises
Strengthening and retraining the muscles around the knee is essential. Chiropractors may guide you through exercises to:
- Rebuild strength in the quads, hamstrings, and glutes
- Improve balance and coordination
- Re-establish proper movement patterns for daily activities or sports
- Pain Relief Modalities
Depending on your condition, chiropractors may also use supportive therapies like:
- Electrical stimulation (TENS)
- Shockwave therapy
These can reduce pain and inflammation, especially in the early stages of recovery.
- Patient Education & Support
You’ll also receive guidance on:
- Activity modifications to avoid further damage
- Bracing or taping, if needed
- Lifestyle tips to support healing
Collaboration Is Key
In cases of ACL tears—especially complete ruptures—interdisciplinary care is critical. Chiropractors often work in partnership with general practitioners, orthopaedic surgeons and sport medicine doctors.
If your ACL tear is unstable or surgical, your chiropractor should refer you appropriately rather than attempting to manage the injury alone.
While chiropractic care is helpful in many aspects of recovery, it’s important to know that your chiropractor will not manipulate your unstable knee and will not delay your surgical referral where appropriate.
If you’re dealing with an ACL injury, whether post-surgery or non-surgical, call us on (02) 8018 8883 to have a chat with one of our Chiropractors at Aret Chiropractic in North Ryde or simply book in online for a consultation.