Can rehab be faster for athletes to return to sports?
ACL reconstruction surgeryis a common approach to repairing a ruptured ACL.
Even so, ACL rehabilitation can and does take months.
Hero Images / Getty Images
The ACL then has to heal in this position to withstand the repetitive stress of sports.
That means the new ACL graft can become loose or re-torn.
ACL tear rehabilitation is considered essential to getting you back into competition form to avoid this.
This can be accomplished with:
Range of motion exercises can begin almost immediately after surgery.
The initial focus is to regain full knee extension (the ability to straighten the knee).
Flexion (the ability to bend) is much easier to recover than extension.
Controversies in ACL Rehab
Some surgeons may recommend aknee braceafter ACL surgery.
Phase 2: Weeks 3-6
During Phase 2, work is continued with physical therapy.
Once normal motion has been achieved, some sport-specific activities can be started.
Side-to-side, pivoting sportssuch as basketball, soccer, and footballmust be avoided.
Phase 4: Months 3-6
Continued progression with sports-specific activities is the focus of Phase 4.
The emphasis of Phase 4 is on sport simulating activities.
This includes figure-of-eight drills andplyometrics(which require you to jump and land in safe, specific ways).
Over time,sports drillscan be incorporated into the plan.
For example, a tennis player may start light-hitting, while a soccer player might engage in controlled dribbling.
At the end of Phase 5, yourorthopedic surgeoncan assess whether you might safely return to sports.
The consequences of this can be catastrophic, leading to re-rupture and another possible round of surgery.
In his first game back, he fractured his kneecap from where the graft was taken from.
The new injury ended his season before it barely began.
How Soon Is Too Soon?
Commitment is key to an unrestricted return to sports.
Summary
Recovery from cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery takes time and patience.
The process generally takesat leastsix months and likely longer.
This last factor is arguably the most important and the one you could fully control.
It is, therefore, essential to understand what is involved over the long term and to prepare emotionally.
ACL rehab is a progressive, structured program with specific milestones you should probably meet.
To progress from one step to the next, you must be able to complete certain activities.
If you cannot, the pace of your recovery may be affected.
Commitment and patience are key.
Bliss JP.Anterior cruciate ligament injury, reconstruction, and the optimization of outcome.Indian J Orthop.
Four-year results of a prospective clinical trial.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc.
2017;22(1):241-51. doi:10.1515/ijame-2017-0014
New York Times.Rice’s 2d knee injury ends a lost season.
December 17, 1997.
2022 Jan;53:115-42. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.11.007
