How to Self-Test for ACL Injuries

ACL injuries can usually be detected with an anterior drawer test. However, self-testing is not recommended. The operation of the anterior drawer test is as follows: the patient is placed in the supine position with the knee flexed at 90°, and the examiner’s legs are placed against the patient’s feet to fix them on the bed surface. The thumbs of both hands are placed near the tibial plateau, and the remaining four fingers of both hands are placed in the corresponding position behind the calf, and both hands forcefully pull the calf toward the front. If the tibia moves anteriorly by more than 5 mm, the test is positive and proves that there is an injury to the ACL. The test is less frequently used in acute injuries because the knee joint will be swollen and painful due to ACL injury caused by external force, and the test is painful to perform and difficult for the examinee to cooperate with. When a similar situation occurs in the clinic, one should consult a doctor immediately and not make a diagnosis on one’s own.