Snapped ACL

Sycodude
Sycodude Posts: 155
edited August 2009 in Health, fitness & training
Ive snapped my Anterior Cruciet Ligament. Since then i have had an operation to replace it. the op was on 26th of may this year.

i need tips to get my Quads and Hamstring back up to strength

i have a brace on which restricts my movement from straight to 90 degrees.

im 16 and i dont think the exercises the physios have given me are adequette enough.

Please HELP!!
I wish my grass was emo,then it would cut itself

Comments

  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Try and get referred to a sports therapist (or pay for one if you can't get it on the NHS, if that's an option), for me it was 100% worth it- my NHS physio was very good but the specialist knowledge I got from the sports clinic has made a big difference (I had a grade 2 ACL and MCL tear, on top of muscle trauma from surgery on a previous injury, broken hip... Not to mention huge loss of muscle through inactivity).

    I didn't need surgery or a replacement for the ligaments so I can't really comment on that, but I did have total stability loss at the time and needed a support brace for a year just to get around, that was... 3 years ago? 3 and a half? Worst year of my life. But I've gone from being basically a cripple to having an almost normally functional knee, it does hold me back a little and I'll never be a strong rider but after 3 years of hard work I'm definately above average riding fitness despite it all.

    Luckily cycling's one of the sports which is generally least affected by ACL injury, and also it's a good therapy for the injury. Good luck!
    Uncompromising extremist
  • Underscore
    Underscore Posts: 730
    Sycodude wrote:
    Ive snapped my Anterior Cruciet Ligament. Since then i have had an operation to replace it. the op was on 26th of may this year.

    i need tips to get my Quads and Hamstring back up to strength

    i have a brace on which restricts my movement from straight to 90 degrees.

    im 16 and i dont think the exercises the physios have given me are adequette enough.

    Please HELP!!

    Just a word of caution. Please bear in mind that it will take many weeks for the graft to re-vacillate and to regain its strength. The last thing you want to do is to rupture the graft and have to go through the operation again. From what I remember of when my wife went through the same thing, the first couple of months post-op is about retaining movement in the knee and building up some muscle to support the knee but all the time the emphasis is on minimising, or at least controlling, the load on the graft. Once the graft has re-vacillated and strengthened, you will have plenty of time to rebuild your strength in that leg.

    HTH,

    _
  • welsh_wonder
    welsh_wonder Posts: 152
    Underscore,

    Spot on, im having ACL reconstruction surgery on the 17th and it takes 3 months for the graft to settle and regain the little blood supply it has. After that your looking at a 6-9 month recovery.

    After discharge it is important to continue with the rehabilitation. The physiotherapist should give you program when you left the hospital. The physiotherapist should also arrange for follow up physiotherapy. This should be undertaken two or three times a week for six weeks and then perhaps once a week for another six weeks.

    Physiotherapy will be directed initially at controlling any pain or swelling of the knee and regaining a full range of knee motion by 6 weeks. Subsequently physiotherapy will be directed towards balance, muscle reaction and reflexes and proprioception. This is an essential stage in the rehabilitation.

    The supporting knee brace can usually be removed after 4 weeks which is why im a bit supprised you still have yours on after nearly 3 months. Driving, static cycling and pool exercises can be undertaken after 4 weeks and gentle crawl swimming and gently low weight gym exercises after 6 weeks. Normal cycling, swimming, jogging and golf can usually be restarted after 12 weeks. Squash, tennis and football can usually be undertaken after 6 months.

    The more thime with the physios the quicker you recover but also you have to put in the work as well but its not a case of a few weeks, the graft has now settled and in the next few weeks your physios will change you program and start your workup but remember your still at a very early stage of which is a long process back to full fitness.

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