If the ACL ruptures or suffers a large tear, most professional players elect to get it surgically replaced by a graft. It usually takes four months or more to recover from the injury. They usually are very painful and cause the ankle to swell. Though the diagnosis can be made just by questioning the player and examining the ankle, doctors usually take an X-ray to check for other damage. Surgery may be needed for extreme tears or repeated tears, to repair or replace the ligament.
Most players recover in three to six weeks.
Taping the ankle, wearing high-top athletic shoes, stretching, and strengthening can help prevent the injury. A concussion is a brain injury caused by a sharp blow to the head. It can hurt the brain at the site of the blow or can cause the brain to jolt away from the blow and hit the inside of the skull. The player can be confused or dizzy and, in severe cases, may lose consciousness. Players also might get a silent injury, in which a small artery bleeds into the skull, and the effects are not apparent for several hours.