Something Borrowed, Something Blue
and a Knee Injury too?
By Dr. Logan Fields
Weddings are a cumulation of many lives into a magical, fun-filled day, with the hopes of setting aside any family misunderstandings, to focus on the union of two families brought together by love. For me, it seems like just yesterday, my first last kiss, and my mother’s last dance with her baby boy. But for most, the pinnacle of the “big” day is driven by the array of garments from elegant princess dresses to polished tuxedos and sometimes a flair of the occasional casual or outlandish styles that dominate the day. However, in my humble opinion, the highlight of the wedding lies within the post-celebration during the reception. It truly hit home for me during the long awaited first dance as a married couple. I could only smile as all eyes intently focused in great emotion on us as we sway left to right moving gently across the dance floor as husband and wife. I will also never forget the dance with my mother, her embrace and the slight pressure of her press on nails that dug deeply into my back. Her body language silently nudged me sending me her love and secretly wishing the song would never end so she could live in this moment forever. These are the times we reflect back and realize how special family is in our lives.
And with all special moments, we typically have a list of a few “please don’t let this happen.” If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, you typically pray for no rain, although, I’ve heard that rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck? And, of course, if you’re significant other has a tendency to always show up late, you pray that just this once they’ll be early. Or the one I’m most familiar with professionally, “please, please, please don’t let me fall on my face as I execute this dance that will most definitely go viral.” While I can’t speak for the weather or the punctuality of your loved ones, I can say that unfortunately, knee injuries do occur on those beloved dance floors. Most recently, I have had a patient who was “cutting a rug” on the dance floor and sustained and ACL injury to their knee. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the main stabilizers in the knee and while most associate the injury with sports it can occur with multiple normal activities in life. Most commonly, during the activity, the ligament (tissue that connects bone to bone) is stretched or torn when your foot is firmly planted and the knee locks and twists or pivots all at the same time. While my patient was unable to continue to dance the night away, as a real trooper, they continued to be a part of the festivities from the bench. This injury does require a medical diagnosis but the most common symptoms include knee swelling, instability and pain. My patient was young and active so we recommended surgical reconstruction of the ACL to restore stability and improve function of the knee but dependent on a case by case evaluation, nonsurgical options may be available. Non-operative rehabilitation for an ACL injury may include but not be limited to bracing and extensive rehabilitation to restore strength and stability. Happy to report my patient recovered well from the procedure and was back to their normal activities including swing dancing.
As you embark on this blissful journey, during your planning for the dance routine that will be remembered for all times, take note of a few steps that will prepare you for the “big” day: Practice. Practice. Practice. The more comfortable you and your partner are with the moves, the more your body will learn to move with good alignment which will in turn protect your knees. Develop body awareness, strength and balance to support your knees and ankles. And, most importantly have fun. Everyone loves a great ending to a story but the beginning and journey is where we discover the real beauty.
To learn more about ACL injury treatment options or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Logan Fields, visit www.athensorthopedicclinic.com or call (770) 554-5009.
Logan Fields, MD is a Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery and specializes in arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine. A native of Albany in southwest Georgia, he spent the vast majority of his childhood participating in sports and adventuring in the great outdoors. His love for sports continues on with coaching his children and providing orthopedic care to the community’s athletes of all ages.
