Returning to Sports after ACL Reconstruction Surgery: What You Need to Know
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common injury among football players of all levels. In fact, anterior cruciate ligament injuries are responsible for half or more of all knee injuries.Although it can be a devastating injury for young athletes, ACL reconstruction surgery allows you to return to sports.
8 things to remember during your recovery
1. Get back into shape
Do not underestimate the decline in fitness that occurs after an ACL injury. Cardio workouts on a stationary bike or even speed walking can be extremely beneficial in the early stages of recovery.
2. Include your workout routine
- It is critical to try to incorporate your training routine into your daily routine, such as while at home watching television or spending time with family and friends.
3. Consult with your family and friends
- It may be worth informing your family and friends that you will be spending a significant amount of time (approximately 45 minutes per day) performing exercises, as this may interfere with family life or social engagements.
4. Maintain your motivation
- The recovery period can last up to a year, which is quite long. Training and recovery can be tedious, especially if you are at home alone in the early stages of recovery. Creating and sticking to a home exercise plan can be difficult, but one helpful tips is to keep an exercise log. If you are having difficulty, speak with your surgeon, physiotherapist, or general practitioner.
5. Learn to use your hip to stabilize your knee.
- The thigh bone connects the hip to the knee. A strong hip will aid in knee control when turning, landing, and planting your foot. As a result, working with your physiotherapist to activate and strengthen the hip and core muscles is critical.
6. Consult with your physiotherapist on a regular basis.
- Your physiotherapist will need to assess your progress to determine whether you are ready to advance to the next level. Each progression has a checkpoint, for example, before running you must demonstrate a stable single leg squat. Nonetheless, we Everyone moves at their own pace; don't worry about chasing targets. Your physiotherapist will instruct you on a variety of movements. Each movement should start slowly and carefully, and only as your confidence grows should you gradually increase the speed and complexity of the movement.
7. The "unknown" can be the most difficult challenge.
- Education is essential. The more research and learning you do before the procedure, the better. It is critical to actively engage with your surgeon and physiotherapist, as well as read information leaflets and continue to ask questions.
8. Pain does not always indicate re-injury.
- During the recovery period, pain does not always indicate re-injury. Pain is frequently caused by muscle inactivity or malfunction, which can be alleviated as physiotherapy progresses and muscle patterning improves.
To We've created a post-surgery recovery timeline to help you manage your expectations during recovery:
Immediately following ACL surgery
Your knee will be extremely swollen immediately following surgery. The first step in your recovery will be to reduce the swelling as soon as possible. This can be accomplished with ice and compression, which can also aid in pain management. You may also be advised to take pain relievers; however, your healthcare professional can provide more information on this.3
Two to six weeks following surgery
During this time, the swelling around your knee should have subsided significantly. However, the tissue graft inserted during your ACL reconstruction surgery is typically weak around this time, implying that the ligament may only be able to handle light therapeutic exercises such as walking.We've created a post-surgery recovery timeline to help you manage your expectations during recovery:
Immediately following ACL surgery
Your knee will be extremely swollen immediately following surgery. The first step in your recovery will be to reduce the swelling as soon as possible. This can be accomplished with ice and compression, which can also aid in pain management. You may also be advised to take pain relievers; however, your healthcare professional can provide more information on this.3
Two to six weeks following surgery
During this time, the swelling around your knee should have subsided significantly. However, the tissue graft inserted during your ACL reconstruction surgery is typically weak around this time, implying that the ligament may only be able to handle light therapeutic exercises such as walking.The strength and stability of your knee determines your ability to return to football.
Your physio will want to make sure you don't have any pain or swelling in your knee when you run. When you have an acceptable range of motion with good stability and your injured knee is as strong as your other knee, you will most likely be cleared to play.
Three to six months following surgery
This stage of your recovery is about you regaining full strength - you must set the pace. Your physiotherapy exercises should have improved your knee's use and range of motion by this point, but you may still be experiencing pain.Many footballers will feel ready to resume running at this point, but your physiotherapist may want to make sure you pass additional functional tests before allowing you to run. Remember that everyone is different, and full recovery can take up to a year.
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