For most people, it takes 2-9 months to fully recover from ACL surgery. A 2016 study of 80 amateur athletes found that on average, athletes returned to their sport after eight months.
How Long Does ACL reconstruction recovery take?
Within the first few weeks after surgery, you should strive to regain a range of motion equal to that of your opposite knee. Recovery generally takes about nine months . It may take eight to 12 months or more before athletes can return to their sports.
How long will I be off work after ACL surgery?
If you work in an office, you may be able to return to work after 2 to 3 weeks . If you do any form of manual labour, it could be up to 3 months before you can return to work, depending on your work activities.
How painful is ACL surgery recovery?
How long does pain last after ACL surgery? Most people have some surgery-related pain and discomfort for the first week or so. Not surprisingly, pain decreases with time. By the end of a week or two at the most, you should have very little discomfort .
What is the fastest ACL recovery?
The mid-1990s case of former Vikings tailback Terry Allen marked the first really effective and immediate return from an ACL injury, but it's worth noting Allen's occurred during a July 1993 practice, giving him a full calendar year to recover before putting together a 1,031-yard season in 1994.
Is ACL surgery a major surgery?
Injuries requiring reconstruction or replacement of the ACL are common among athletes. ACL reconstruction surgery can help restore range of motion, function and stability to the knee joint after an ACL injury. ACL reconstruction surgery is a common but major surgery with risks, like any other surgery .
What can you do 3 months after ACL surgery?
- Perform lateral training exercises such as lunges and side steps.
- Do flutter-style swimming strokes.
- Avoid cutting or pivoting motions.
- Continue strength exercises, and begin sport-specific training.
What happens at 6 weeks after ACL surgery?
Week 6-12:
Patients will begin working on more activity-specific strengthening and weight bearing exercises, such as squats, ascending and descending stairs, and balancing . They can also begin biking with resistance. The muscles begin to recover their normal function and gait becomes more normalized.
Why is ACL surgery recovery so long?
Like all ligaments, the ACL takes a very long time to heal. The reason is because ligaments are poorly vascularized . In other words, there aren't many blood vessels to provide nutrients for the ligaments, and without nutrients, tissue repair is not possible. Oftentimes, ACL tears require a surgical graft.
When is ACL graft weakest?
The graft is at its weakest at 3 to 6 months – just when the patient is beginning to regain confidence. It is therefore essential that return to proper sport is delayed until 9 months post-op.
What should I avoid after ACL surgery?
- Do not put too much pressure on your knee and body. It's easy to feel impatient throughout your rehabilitation. ...
- Don't over ice your knee. ...
- Avoid sleeping with your knee bent. ...
- Do not overcompensate your recovering knee. ...
- Do not be afraid to tell your doctor if you are worried about something.
When can I shower after ACL surgery?
You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor okays it. When you shower, keep your bandage and incision dry by taping a sheet of plastic to cover them. It might be best to get a shower stool to sit on.
Will I gain weight after ACL surgery?
Beginning 3 months after surgery, the normal weight group had significantly larger changes in BMI percentile at each time window . The normal weight group peaked with a median percentile increase of 4.15 points at 9 months after surgery (IQR, −1.27 to 9.12).
How long do you stay in the hospital after ACL surgery?
After ACL reconstruction surgery, some patients remain in the hospital for as long as 24 hours . As soon as possible after surgery is completed, you will begin doing continuous passive motion exercises while in bed.
What happens 2 weeks after ACL surgery?
During the first two weeks following your surgery, the main goal is limiting pain and swelling as much as possible, while also focusing on partially regaining your range of motion . You will likely be on crutches for at least 7-10 days following the surgery.
When is your knee the weakest after ACL surgery?
The new graft needs some stimulus to encourage collagen healing and regeneration. The graft complex is actually at its weakest at around the 6 week post operative mark .
How Long Does ACL surgery usually take?
The surgery usually takes 2 to 21⁄2 hours , and you won't need to stay in the hospital overnight. To do the reconstruction, the surgeon will drill bone tunnels into the tibia and the femur, remove the torn ligament, then place the ACL graft in about the same position.
Will my knee ever be the same after ACL surgery?
For the most part, patients' range-of-motion 10 years after surgery was the same as it had been two years after the operation . About 85 per cent of the 502 patients had a stable knee they could hop on.
How long will I be in crutches after ACL surgery?
1 – 2 weeks
Crutches: while you can weight-bear immediately after the operation, you will be given crutches as you recover from post-op pain and swelling. It usually takes 7-10 days before you can walk comfortably without them.
How do you sleep after ACL surgery?
You can sleep on your back or side . Do not rest your knee with a pillow/towel under. It is very important to keep your knee straight. You will need a walking aid after your operation as you are likely to have a reduced weight-bearing (partial weight-bearing) capacity through your operated leg for two weeks.
Does ACL surgery leave a scar?
Postoperative scarring is a known complication after arthroscopic anterior ligament reconstruction of the knee . The rate of symptomatic scarring requiring surgical lysis of adhesions after isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is approximately 0.34%.
What can I do 4 months after ACL surgery?
- Improve Your Running Mechanics. Let's start with the part that many athletes are aching the most to get back to: running. ...
- Continue to Build Muscular Strength and Power. ...
- Begin Agility Training.
How long do I have to wear my knee brace after ACL surgery?
Continue to use your functional knee brace during athletic activity for at least 12 months after surgery.
What happens at 6 months after ACL surgery?
At 6 months post-op, you're still probably learning proper motor control for vital movements like cutting or lateral shuffling . This means you actually aren't yet ready to get back out onto the field, which brings up an important point about this first RTS: you're not going to pass it. Don't panic!
What can I do 8 weeks after ACL surgery?
Usually by 6-8 Weeks After ACL Surgery patients should be able to have full flexion to 135 degrees, be able to consistently use the weight room and moderate speed strengthening training or agility and sport specific drills .
When can I play golf after ACL surgery?
A complete recovery from surgery to sport takes 4 to 6 months. If you do undergo surgery, you may continue to play golf only after complete rehabilitation and recovery to avoid further injuries.
Do I have to sleep in my brace after ACL surgery?
Use your crutches for balance. You need to sleep with your brace locked in extension for the first two weeks . You will discontinue the brace once you have full ROM and good quadriceps control. This usually occurs between 4 and 6 weeks post-op.
