WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF ACL REHAB post surgery?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a key stabiliser of the knee, preventing anterior translation of the tibia (shin) relevant to the femur (thigh), it also limits the medial rotation of the shin too. At Optimum we have lots of experience with assessing knees for ACL instability.
Upon confirmation of a ruptured ACL through a thorough assessment and an MRI, surgery is often completed using a hamstring graft or a patella tendon graft to replace the ACL and provide similar stability.
In the early stages the main aim of Optimum therapists is to reduce the swelling around the knee, increase range and limit muscle loss.
Once through this stage in the early few weeks the aim changes to building some strength back into your atrophied quadriceps, calf, hamstring and gluteal muscles and encourage walking without crutches. Upon regaining some strength it is important to not increase the load drastically during the 8-12 week mark as this is often when the graft is maturing and at its weakest.
Upon achieving a normal gait and some base level of strength the aims are to increase bilateral strength with a view to progressing to unilateral strength work and ultimately plyometric based work before returning to running and cutting movements.
Hamstrings remain a core component of long term ACL health, at Optimum we maintain a lot of strength work in practical element however there is always an important element to maintain specific hamstring out and out strength. Exercises like nordics, RDL and deadlifts are useful for this.
If you have a new or old ACL injury that you are looking to stabilise and possible reduce knee pain feel free to get in touch and visit us.