Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgery, especially for athletes and active individuals who experience ACL tears. Recovery is critical to regaining knee function, stability, and strength.
Following your surgery, it’s essential to adhere to a specific rehabilitation program to ensure proper healing and return to your regular activities safely. This blog will outline some important precautions and exercises to follow post-surgery.
Follow Your Doctor’s Advice After surgery, your surgeon will provide specific guidelines based on the severity of your injury, type of graft used, and individual healing process. It’s crucial to follow these instructions carefully.
Avoid Putting Excess Weight on Your Knee In the initial weeks after surgery, you will likely use crutches to keep weight off the affected leg. Ensure that you don’t rush into full weight-bearing too early as this can compromise the graft.
Be Careful with Range of Motion While it’s important to restore movement, forcing your knee into positions beyond what is recommended can cause complications. Your physical therapist will guide you on appropriate range-of-motion exercises that promote healing without risking further injury.
Don’t Rush Into Sports One of the biggest mistakes people make is returning to sports or high-impact activities before their knee is ready. It can take 6-12 months for the ACL graft to fully integrate into your knee, and engaging in sports too early can result in a re-tear.
Watch Out for Swelling Swelling is a normal part of the recovery process, but excessive swelling may indicate that you’re doing too much too soon. Keep your knee elevated and use ice packs regularly to reduce swelling, especially after exercises.
Use a Knee Brace if Prescribed If your doctor or physical therapist recommends a knee brace, wear it as instructed. Braces can help protect the knee during the early stages of healing and during exercises.
Avoid Pivoting or Twisting Movements Pivoting or twisting your knee can stress the ACL graft. Until you’ve regained strength and stability through rehabilitation, avoid these motions to prevent reinjury.
