The
athlete gives a history of a twisting injury to his knee, associated with a 'popping'
sensation in the knee.This is followed by pain and swelling of the knee. He then may indicate the feeling of the knee coming apart with the '2 fist sign'. The photo to the right shows the athlete indicating the '2 fist sign'.
The severity of the symptoms vary a great deal, depending on the degree of meniscal and capsular injury. He may come in walking, with minimal swelling, or on crutches, unable to weigh bear, depending on the associated injuries.
In fact, the first injury that tears the anterior cruciate ligament may be so trivial that the athlete goes back into the game, pivots on his knee again, and this time tears the meniscus.