The patient is a hard-working manager of a marketing firm, who enjoys tennis and other activities. A few weeks ago, she twisted her right knee while pivoting to hit a backhand shot. She heard a "pop" and experienced immediate pain and swelling. She underwent an MRI and was diagnosed with grade 2 ACL sprain and was discharged after emergency measures. Afterward, she rested and took some pain medication, but it has been hard for her to recover mobility and function of the lower limbs. Currently, she experiences some mild pain in the right knee, especially with weight-bearing activities. There is still some mild swelling and stiffness in the joint, and she experiences difficulty in bending the knee fully.
The treatment focused on control of inflammation and pain of the knee, as well as improving the function of the tendons of the quadriceps femoris, which moves the knee. The patient came in for regular biweekly sessions of acupuncture under the IMEAST (Intramuscular Electroacupuncture Stimulation Treatment). The patient was also instructed to continue the isometric exercises and stretching she was first discharged with.
Early improvements in pain and swelling were seen within the first two weeks, with progressive gains in strength and stability by the sixth week. While recovery was relatively slow due to the critical nature of her injury, she was able to return to tennis after eight weeks of regular treatment.