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Health

Knee brace may help torn anterior cruciate ligaments heal themselves

In a study involving 80 people with ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments, 90 per cent had signs of healing after three months of wearing a specialised knee brace

By Clare Watson

22 June 2023

A study participant wears a specialised knee brace designed to support healing of the anterior cruciate ligament

Stephanie Filbay

The vast majority of torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) can heal themselves with the help of a specialised knee brace, a small study has found.

A ruptured ACL is a common sports injury that is usually treated with reconstructive surgery to replace the torn ligament. Last year, Stephanie Filbay at the University of Melbourne in Australia and her colleagues found that about 30 per cent of people who opted to defer surgery and try rehabilitation had some degree of ACL healing…

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