Can an ACL Tear Heal on Its Own?

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most important stabilizers in your knee joint, and when it’s torn, it can significantly affect your ability to walk, run, and play sports. While you might hope rest and time will fix the issue, most ACL tears won’t heal without medical intervention.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait for a doctor’s appointment. At Full Orthopedics Urgent Care in North Miami Beach, Florida, our team specializes in diagnosing and treating knee pain and sports injuries. 

Let’s take a look at how ACL tears happen, what the symptoms are, and why seeing a specialist early matters for your long-term knee health.

The basics of ACL injuries

Your ACL is a strong band of tissue that connects your thigh bone (femur) to your shin bone (tibia). It helps control the forward motion and rotation of your knee, especially during physical activities like jumping, cutting, and pivoting.

ACL injuries happen when this ligament gets overstretched or torn, typically during activity. ACL tears are common in sports like soccer, basketball, football, and skiing, which require quick movement and turns.

We categorize ACL injuries into three grades:

• Grade 1: a mild sprain, where your ligament is stretched but still intact
• Grade 2: a partial tear, which can cause some joint instability
• Grade 3: a complete tear, where your knee often feels unstable

While mild Grade 1 ACL injuries may heal on their own with at-home care, more severe sprains and tears typically require professional care to heal properly.

Common symptoms of an ACL tear

If you’ve torn your ACL, you may experience symptoms like:

• A popping sound or sensation at the time of injury
• Sudden pain and swelling within a few hours
• The feeling of your knee giving out when you put weight on it
• Difficulty walking, running, or going down stairs
• Limited range of motion in your knee

It’s important to understand that swelling and pain can sometimes improve with rest, and it’s easy to assume your injury is healing. However, a torn ACL usually won’t fully heal on its own.

Why ACL tears usually don’t heal on their own

In most cases, ACL tears won’t heal without professional treatment. That’s because your ACL doesn’t have a strong blood supply, which means it can’t repair itself as effectively as other tissues.

Mild sprains can improve with conservative care, but partial or full tears typically need more targeted treatment. Delaying treatment could put you at greater risk of further joint damage, like cartilage wear, and secondary injuries like meniscus tears.

For active individuals or those experiencing significant knee instability, surgery may be necessary to restore normal knee function.

Get a prompt diagnosis at urgent care

If you think you might have an ACL tear, don’t wait to get it checked out. Our team at Full Orthopedics Urgent Care has the experience and equipment to diagnose your injury and get you started on the right treatment plan.

When you come into our clinic, we start with a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms. We may use imaging tests like an MRI to confirm your diagnosis and then discuss treatment options.

Whether you need bracing, physical therapy, or referral to a specialist, we can help you get the answers you need. Early diagnosis leads to better outcomes and helps prevent long-term knee problems that can limit your lifestyle.

Don’t wait to see if your knee injury heals on its own. Come to Full Orthopedics Urgent Care, and we’ll get to the root of the issue and guide you toward the best path for healing. Walk into our clinic or contact us by calling our office today to schedule an appointment.