Swelling
An ACL injury can damage the surrounding blood vessels that feed the ligament. This eventually leads to a blood leak in the affected area and makes fluids build up in your tissues. Therefore, you can notice swelling, redness, and bruises just a few minutes after the accident. This condition is also known as hemarthrosis. It typically happens in almost all cases and can last up to one week. Due to the spongy look, many people often call it “water on the knee”. The exact location of the swelling is not the same. Sometimes it is located within your knee joints, but it can also be found in the surrounding soft tissues of the knee. [2]
