Is acupuncture useful for ligament injuries?

Ligament is a relatively important part of the human body, and ligament injury is also a relatively common injury. Athletes or people engaged in physical labor are particularly prone to ligament injuries. There are many ways to treat ligament injuries, among which acupuncture can also play an auxiliary role in the treatment of ligament injuries. Below, we will introduce you to the relevant knowledge about ligament injuries in detail!

1. Is acupuncture useful for ligament injuries?

Knee ligament injury causes pain when running and is a soft tissue injury. If you need anti-inflammatory and detumescence treatment, you can take Chinese medicine such as Yunnan Baiyao, Qilinsan, etc. to promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and reduce swelling. Apply anti-inflammatory ointment externally. Acupuncture also has a certain effect. You must rest in your daily life and do not move injured joints. You need to rest for at least 1 to 2 weeks before resuming light exercise.

2. Causes of ligament injury

1. Vigorous exercise

Ligament injuries are certainly more likely to occur during strenuous exercise, such as college sports competitions, dancing, and acrobatics, but even in daily life, accidents such as car accidents and falls from heights can cause similar injuries.

2. External factors

When non-physiological movement in a certain direction occurs, the ligaments that limit the movement of the knee joint in that direction will inevitably bear the brunt. When the knee joint is externally rotated and abducted in the flexed position and is subjected to violence from the outside, the medial capsular ligament and medial collateral ligament are mainly damaged. In severe cases, the anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus may also be involved. This is the most common mode of injury. When the knee joint is in extension, adduction, and internal rotation, violence from the front causes hyperextension, which often injures the lateral structure and posterior cruciate ligament. In severe cases, it can cause damage to the common peroneal nerve, sometimes accompanied by tibial condyle fracture. When the tibia is suddenly and violently displaced backward or forward in the flexed knee position, it will cause rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament, anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. Ligament injuries of the knee are common in football, basketball, ice skaters, and porters.

3. Treatment of ligament injuries

1. First aid measures

(1) Rest: Stop exercising immediately and do not put weight on the injured joint.

(2) Cold compress Ice or other cold compresses can help reduce pain and swelling because lowering the temperature can reduce blood circulation. Apply cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes each time, 3 to 4 times a day.

(3) Compression: Using a bandage or other methods to compress the injured area can reduce bleeding and congestion. The bandage should be moderately tight, so that you can feel pressure but not so tight that your extremities become numb or lack blood flow.

(4) Elevate the affected limb

2. Ligament repair

Ligament injuries must be dealt with early and repaired comprehensively. If not treated in time, repeated sprains of the joints will inevitably cause damage to important structures such as articular cartilage and meniscus, leading to premature aging of the joints and, in severe cases, developing into secondary traumatic arthritis. The key to its treatment is to repair the damaged ligament. Partial tears can be repaired directly by suture, while complete ruptures require surgery to transfer, repair and reconstruct adjacent tendons, fascia and other tissues.