Pop! Torn your ACL? Get Orthopedic Help ASAP
6/11/2026
If you play sports, or simply live an active lifestyle, you may face an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear at some point in your life. This common knee injury can happen when you turn a planted foot or land awkwardly.
“If you’re in the middle of physical activity and hear or experience a loud popping or snapping sensation, swelling, loss of mobility and/or instability, you need medical evaluation right away to prevent further damage to your knee,” says Brandon Grooms, M.D., a fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at Northwest Bone & Joint at Houghton who specializes in open, arthroscopic and reconstructive procedures for the shoulder, hip and knee. “Your doctor will perform an exam, run some specific tests and order imaging to get you on a personalized plan for treatment and recovery.”
While you wait (hopefully not long) for that medical evaluation, it’s vital to stabilize your knee using the RICE method:
- Rest: Avoid activities that put stress on the knee and avoid bearing weight.
- Ice: Apply cold packs for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
- Compression: Wrap the knee in an elastic bandage to minimize swelling.
- Elevation: Prop the leg up on pillows so that it rests above the level of your heart.
Later on, Dr. Grooms says, you may need knee bracing and physical therapy to relieve pain and regain full mobility in your knee. If you’re an athlete, on the younger side, or someone experiencing persistent knee instability during ordinary daily activities, you may need further surgical treatment and/or reconstruction.
“Surgical recovery and rehabilitation typically take nine months to a year before you can safely return to high-impact activities,” Dr. Grooms says. “That’s why getting quality, specialized treatment for an ACL tear is so important after an injury.”
Dr. Grooms will host a walk-in sports physical clinic for young athletes from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Mon., July 6, and Mon., Aug. 17, at Northwest Bone & Joint at Houghton, located at 2300 S. Houghton Rd., Suite #140. The cost is $40. For information, call (520) 618-5500.
For more information about Northwest Healthcare’s Bone & Joint orthopedics program, and to learn more about how our surgeons and other orthopedic care providers can help you move freely again, visit https://www.healthiertucson.com/orthopedic-services.
Back