If you have injured your ACL ligament, but you don’t want to fall behind in your fitness goals, there are a few methods that you can use that will combine rehabilitation with your workouts. However, it should be noted that a torn or strained ACL is a serious injury. If you do not follow your doctor’s advice, you could end up with permanent damage. You will need to weigh your options and find a workout routine that will allow you to completely heal.
The best alternative in this situation is usually swimming. You’ll be getting the benefits of an aerobic workout without any impact. However, this may not always be possible, and you’ll need to find ways to swim without stressing that ligament. Such as a swimming bouy. Check with your doctor before attempting any new exercise.
If you are given a brace to help with rehabilitation, this will give you a few more options when it comes to working out. Your brace should protect your ACL and allow you some freedom to keep doing light exercises. However, you should not be bending your affected leg, or overexerting it. At the end of the day, it comes down to recovering for a few weeks without exercise, or taking months to get better.
Once you are cleared to start rehabilitation, you will be able to start on a light fitness program. This usually entails walking on a treadmill or using an elliptical machine, and a few weight bearing exercises. Ideally, you will do these exercises with a physical therapist, but if that is not an option, you’ll need to be as careful as possible.
The key to staying fit during the recovery process is choosing the right activity. Listen to your body and don't push it until you are cleared to do so by your physical thearpist and your doctor.
Once you have injured your ACL, chances are high that it will happen again. This is particularly true for those that are involved in a host of sports that involve contact and running while chaning directions. You will likly need to wear your brace during these activities to reduce your risks of hurting your ACL again.
While some people are able to fully recover from an ACL injury without surgery, it may be necessary in some cases. If your doctor does recommend surgery, you are going to need to allow for enough recovery time before jumping back into sports or your workout plan. Always discuss your options with your doctor so that they can work with you to develop a recovery plan that will factor in your active lifestyle.
An ACL injury is serious and should not be treated lightly. With the right recovery techniques, you can be assured that you will be able to resume most activities in just a few months.
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Originally posted 2008-08-11 05:53:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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9 comments ↓
Great advice. Hopefully I never need it!
good stuff. I tore my ACL playing hoops a few years ago. It was so tough because i was so active before. I had surgery and I am fully recovered. The rehab was tough though. I’m now doing triathlons, playing soccer, hoops, and everything. Sad news is my dad just tore his ACL playing raquetball a couple of weeks ago.
I tore my right ACL in the early 80s and had it repair in 1985. Was quite an ordeal, but it’s been stronger than my left since that time. The key is doing the rehab work full out–pushing through the pain and gaining a little extension and flexion each day.
[...] your knee. This means that any exercise you do should be focused on your upper body, or even exercises like swimming that will not put any stress on that joint. The key is to keep moving, not to make your injury [...]
[...] Unfortunately, he has an anterior cruciate ligament which is why he has had to step back a bit. The healing process for an ACL injury is six months no matter what you do, meaning he is out until at least January. Because he cannot [...]
Eeee. ACL injuries make me cringe.
They have happened to some friends of mine, but luckily I don’t participate in sports where such injury is common!
It could happen to anyone though, I would guess.
Good advice, I particularly like the proactive approach to rehab that you advocate — swimming, etc rather than sitting on yer arse!
I have got an complete ACL tear, diagnosed through MRI. Not yet done surgery for it. can you please suggest me whether or not I can do push up. I used to do it before my accident. I can’t go to gym now, so want to maintain by arm’s through push up’s at home…
please suggest me…
I have a complete rupture of the ACL diagnosed by MRI I have an appointment with a surgeon in June 2012 I have always been very active and even have a gym at home consisting of multi gym exercise bike , cross trainer. Can you please advise me of what is safe to use as Ill go off my head if I do nothing till June I have been doing some weights and the cross trainer but Im afraid that I might be doing more damage
Kindest Regards
Antoinette
Not a lot of proven knowledge in this article.
Prior to surgery you’d be off very well trying to save as much muscle as possible from atrophy and getting your coordination of the injured leg as sufficient as possible.
Just resting and not doing anything won’t help.
Strength and coordination exercises will. Going into surgery with the highest possible leg strength, good range of motion and good coordination will give you the best chance of quick rehabilitation post OP.
Train daily within the pain- and stability-defined borders. No sports that involve quick movements, or even things like running, which will impact the knee with micro-movements which wouldn’t be possible with an intact ACL. The risk of creating further damage to cartilage or menisci is too high with these exercises.
Things are different in pre-OP rehab if you have suffered accompanying injuries, as for example in an unhappy triad injury.
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