3. Previous Ligament Injury
Some individuals who experience a low-grade ACL injury, don’t require surgery to repair the tendon. Given enough time and rest, the ligament slowly returns to health. In some cases, it may take up to 6-weeks for the swelling and discomfort in the joint to dissipate.
Patients with injuries to any of the ligaments in the knee can expect to develop significant signs of swelling, and the edema may spread toward the ankle as well. After the recovery period, the patient’s ligament will not have the same strength and resilience as before the injury. In most cases, the ligament weakens, and studies show that the patient is 15-percent more likely to incur further damage to the ACL.
Repetitive trauma to the ligament eventually degrades the strength of the fibers in the ligament, and the patient experiences a complete tear of the tendon. It’s unclear how many sprains may result in a complete laceration, as the results differ from person to person.