If you’ve ever watched a game of Australian rules football, rugby league or basketball, you’ve probably seen it happen: a player lands awkwardly, grabs their knee, and doesn’t get back up.

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common and feared knee injuries in sport.

Every year, thousands of Australians rupture their ACL.

The ACL is a strong band of tissue that helps keep the knee stable, especially during quick turns, sudden stops and awkward landings.

At the time of injury, people often report feeling a “pop” in their knee with rapid swelling, acute pain and sometimes, the feeling the knee might buckle when trying to stand or walk.

So, what next? For most, it’s surgery.

But our recent research shows for most people, rehabilitation delivers similar results to surgery.

Read more: Injured your ACL? It’s more than just a knee injury

Are Australians too reliant on surgery?

Our team of physiotherapists and an orthopaedic surgeon recently researched the latest evidence from around the world on how best to treat ACL injuries, and particularly what happens when you do or don’t have surgery.

An estimated 90% of young active Australian........

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