Comments on: ACL Surgery Update – 8 Weeks

By: steve

steve — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:35:05 +0000

hi
i had acl reconstruction on september 8th, 2010. i used a cadaver acl. I’m approximately 4 months post surgery. my doctor advised i could start jogging on the treadmill. I have been jogging on the the treadmill three times a week for thirty minutes at 4.5 miles per hour. My knee was feeling great. Yesterday i decided to step it up a little and ran 5 miles for 60 minutes at 6.0 miles per hour. My knee feels real sore today. I iced my knee twice last night but my knee feels real sore today. Do you think i over did it and should i take a break from running for a while? i get fitted for my brace on Thursday January 6th, 2011. Should i wait till i get my brace to jog again?

By: john martin

john martin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:49:53 +0000

Hi all
i just had a acl reconstruction this monday 15 Nov and am moving around on crutches doing excerises twice a day but have notice that when i do static quads my heel will hardly move off the ground is this normal?

By: Majid Shafiq

Majid Shafiq — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:35:36 +0000

Carey, I read through your comments and you are giving excellent advice. I too have had my ACL reconstructed in June 2010 and now about 4 months on I have just started the gym. With it being a pattellar graft in my case – the knee is still stiff and I cannot fully straighten without a good warm up and the flexion is about 75% what it needs to be.
I have been cycling for a while (2 months now on a exercise bike) combined with body weight exercises. However, I cannot fully straighten the leg and my Vastus Medialis isnt getting the desired contractions.
I was wondering how did you get on with the wobble board and proprioception training. I want to get started on mine asap and I have left this out of my exercise plan until now because of the knee stiffness.
My physio used to be Man City’s physio and is very focused on natural healing and hasnt done anything passive yet – because of the 3-4 month stage and the graft being at its weakest. Who is your physio and how involved was he with your exercise element of your recovery?
I also tore my ACL playing semi pro football back in 2001 and lived with the injury until 2010 (gave up football and started a family). I will be circa 38 years old on my return and would love to play a little with a bigger focus on other activities like cycling, rowing challenges etc (to keep some competition in my life!). i wish I had gone for the surgery then, but, there were more scare stories in those days then there are now and the surgery idea freaked me alittle at the time.
I’ll be keen to find out what modifications you have made to your game as a footballer (i.e. Are you playing full back now to avoid over pivoting of knee load?). My game was all about power and Speed as a Attacking Midfielder and as much as I am missing that – I will possibly be resorting to a full back position in a veterans team on my return……but since you are already playing…I’m very keen to find out what you have done modifications wise since your return.
Finally, does your knee still get Stiff (i.e. more than your better knee?). Have you had any massage? Did it help at the 4 month stage?
Thanks in Advance Mate.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:32:24 +0000

Thank you. Ive been going to the gym for the past 2 weeks. doing weights and cardio. I heard if you are training before the surgery it will speed up the recovery.
How long have you been working out and is it really true?
thanks again.

By: Carey

Carey — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:28:42 +0000

@Strainer – if you feel no pain running on roads, then do it. It may cause problems for some people but I didn’t have a problem. Sand is good because it works you harder and isn’t as high impact. If you can run on grass, do it just in case.

@Rob It seems very early to be running and jumping – are you seeing a physio? When the new ligament is put in place, it has no blood supply. Over time the body accepts it and it develops cappilaries etc. to supply blood, and therefore becomes stronger. This happens gradually so the middle of the ligament is supplied last. At the 3 to 4 month mark the ligament is almost completely supplied with blood, but that means the very centre is weak compared to the rest of it and if you push it too hard it can snap. Stick entirely to the 6 month minimum time frame – you have come a long way and don’t risk it for the sake of a few weeks.

@Vlad The surgery generally goes fine and providing you put in the hard work there will be no problems. Before the surgery you can workout pretty much as normal – cycling, cross trainer for cardio and weights for your quads and hamstrings. Straight after surgery you won’t be able to do this so its a good idea to give yourself a head start. Afterwards, follow your physios advice. Don’t push it too quickly but remember that bending your knee is important to make sure you have the range.

Hope it all goes well guys!