How is an ACL injury diagnosed? What tests are done?

How is an ACL injury diagnosed? What tests are done?

Part of the diagnosis process is ruling out other possible reasons for your knee pain. Your healthcare provider might order an x-ray to make sure no bones are broken. He or she will take a medical history and ask specific questions about the knee pain. They will examine the injured knee and compare it to your other knee. This examination is very accurate at detecting ACL tears.

An MRI will probably be ordered. MRIs show the ligaments, and a torn ACL will show up clearly. This might not be necessary, however, because the comparison between knees may reveal that the ligament is torn.