|
|
Post by nick7691 on Mar 16, 2010 14:12:46 GMT -5
A player on our club team unfortunately received a fully torn ACL during a recent tournament. She and her family are receiving a wide range of time frames in which she would be recovered. The doctor is saying 4-6 months but isn't that really, really fast? The knee involved is her plant leg, if that makes any difference. The family asked for any advice from the VT group.
|
|
|
|
Post by sevb on Mar 16, 2010 14:16:08 GMT -5
Advice...
1)see an ortho - family practice wont know
2)do what the ortho says
3)expect sarcasm from the board
4)what does one need to do to "receive" an acl injury - I want to make sure I avoid the process!
|
|
|
|
Post by dancingbear on Mar 16, 2010 14:25:49 GMT -5
Every patient and doctor are different.
I know of a player back to limited duty after 4 months and I know of girls that never get back 100%.
My personal experience is that 100% takes about a year.
|
|
|
|
Post by urkillinmesmalls on Mar 16, 2010 14:45:20 GMT -5
I tore my ACL about 2 years ago, and was backing playing volleyball full speed about 6-8 months later. I tore mine due to try to make a sharp cut in one direction then back to the other direction. Didn't have good weight balance when cutting, so all of the pressure was placed on my knee. I've seen a couple bad injuries where the player lands on one leg after jumping and all of their weight is again off-balance.
Agree with sevb on #1. See an ortho. Find a good one that has a good partnership with rehabilitation specialists that know the sport, or at least the main movements in the sport so that they can incorporate those movements in the rehab. I actually did some minor volleyball training (passing movements, setting movements, blocking) during my rehabilitation sessions. They were not at the beginning of the process, but closer to the end.
After surgery, do all of the required stretches and exercises and do them over and over. If the rehab folks give you exercises to do at home, do them as frequently as possible.
One of the toughest parts is the mental aspect. Doing the same movement that tore the ACL for the first time can be mentally tough.
|
|
|
|
Post by knowname on Mar 16, 2010 14:55:53 GMT -5
David Beckman (Soccer) just had full ACL tear repair and is expected back in 6 months. Appears to be the norm.
|
|
|
|
Post by qc on Mar 16, 2010 15:08:44 GMT -5
From what I've seen and heard, I would not expect her to be playing this summer or during the fall, 2010 season. However people are different and some heal more quickly than others.
|
|
|
|
Post by karellen on Mar 16, 2010 15:26:03 GMT -5
others are correct - recovery time varies widely from persoon to person. That being said, I once had a player who was on the court, playing at full speed, 3 months from surgery. The surgeon that did her surgery, had a daughter playing soccer 30 days after surgery. I also had a player that was still less than 100% 6 month after surgery.
You will probably be somewhere in that window.
|
|
|
|
Post by vball24 on Mar 16, 2010 16:45:33 GMT -5
David Beckman (Soccer) just had full ACL tear repair and is expected back in 6 months. Appears to be the norm. Beckham actually tore his Achilles tendon, which is almost as equally devastating. From what I heard players generally return in about 8 months, but it takes far longer for them to feel comfortable and at full strength. That usually takes about a year to year and a half, maybe longer depending on things such as age and quality of rehab. |
|
|
|
Post by floater on Mar 16, 2010 17:23:56 GMT -5
I have had 2 ACL surgeries on different knees. One using the patella tendon the other a cadaver. There are several items which go into this surgery.
Find the best ortho doc in your area for sports medicine....one who has performed this operation hundreds if not thousand of times. They will go over the surgery and rehab with you. Your decision on using a cadavor vs your patella tendon.....IMO cadavor is easier to recover from (only one surgery incision, less scar tissue) but the patella provides a stronger hold....longer recovery as you have to rehab the 2 surgery incisions----the removal of the patella and the insertion for your ACL
Second, do everything you can to strengthen your muscles around the knee prior to surgery. The stronger the muscles going into surgery the less athrophy of the muscle. Strengthen your quads and calfs, work them hard.
Prepare your self mentally for a tough rehab....you need to be aware your rehab/recovery will take time, hard work and persistance. ONCE YOU HEAL, the greater the rehab the shorter/greater the recovery.
Make no mistake this recovery will take time.....DO NOT RUSH IT....you only have 2 knees, you are young in life....let your knee heal, work the recovery program which in time you can do every day and DO NOT try to come back early....the worst thing you could do is come back early and injure the knee again....take your time and return when you have full range of motion, the atrophy is completely gone, you have tested it and mentally you are prepared...take things one step at a time.
My time frame for both was 6 month recovery, 2 more months of increment tests and pushing it and 2 more months of mental preparation to really go on it. Realistically you need a year to have it heal, full strength and overcomming mental obstacle.
Good luck
|
|
|
|
Post by sevb on Mar 16, 2010 17:36:56 GMT -5
David Beckman (Soccer) just had full ACL tear repair and is expected back in 6 months. Appears to be the norm. Beckham actually tore his Achilles tendon, which is almost as equally devastating. From what I heard players generally return in about 8 months, but it takes far longer for them to feel comfortable and at full strength. That usually takes about a year to year and a half, maybe longer depending on things such as age and quality of rehab. One the best movie scenes of all time... the brat on Pet Cemetery hooking that up with a scalpel!! OUCH!! |
|
|
|
Post by thegraytribe on Mar 16, 2010 17:42:38 GMT -5
I have been invloved with a couple of different ACL injuries and a patella tendon injury.
Couple of inputs:
1) Definitely see a good ortho. Get recommendations
2) Expect 6mo's to be cleared by the physician to start playing. Re-hab will start very soon after surgery. If he says less than 6mo's worry about him (or her).
3) By month 5 you will be going nutz to play...but you will still have another month so continue to work very hard so that the time period from when you are cleared to playing full speed is very short.
|
|
|
|
Post by volleyballa on Mar 16, 2010 18:27:03 GMT -5
Find an ortho who is of the same thinking as you are. Some are old school and don't think you should do anything for 6-9 months, then start to return. Others are way more progressive and will try and get you back as soon as the injury allows. Going with an old school ortho when you are thinking least amount of time as possible will be very frustrating.
I know a girl that tore hers and exactly 6 months later was playing in a qualifier for 3 days every set of every match and she was fine. The day of her surgery she was told to try walking and doing exercises. She had no minicus damage and has had no problems since. I know another girl that tore hers and had to be on crutches non weight bearing for 3-5 weeks after. I'm not sure what the difference was, but that definitely changes the speed of being able to recover.
Find a great PT! They make a huge difference. Do exactly what they say and go as often as they recommend once you find a good one. Be patient, sometimes it just takes longer for some and sometimes it just depends on what else was damaged.
Tell them to stay positive and work hard. The mental aspect is one of the most important to getting back.
|
|
|
|
Post by tigger1 on Mar 16, 2010 20:35:43 GMT -5
CAUTION: "new school" does not equate with "as fast as possible." Biology has not changed much in centuries. Wisdom teaches us when to respect the normal progression of healing, and when to accelerate the process.
|
|
|
|
Post by mnvbfan on Mar 16, 2010 21:07:33 GMT -5
One doctors opinion. 9-12 months realistically. The graft is weakest at about 4 1/2 months. The knee feels good at this point which might cause one to test it , but the graft is at it's weakest because it's going through a biological vascularization. It takes time for the body to go through this process. Even if it's the patella tendon, it must reestablish the blood supply which takes time.
For a jumping athlete, he feels that the cadaver graft is the best choice because jumping athletes can get a tendonitius or continued patellar pain with a patella tendon graft.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluecollar on Mar 16, 2010 21:21:21 GMT -5
One doctors opinion. 9-12 months realistically. The graft is weakest at about 4 1/2 months. The knee feels good at this point which might cause one to test it , but the graft is at it's weakest because it's going through a biological vascularization. It takes time for the body to go through this process. Even if it's the patella tendon, it must reestablish the blood supply which takes time. For a jumping athlete, he feels that the cadaver graft is the best choice because jumping athletes can get a tendonitius or continued patellar pain with a patella tendon graft. Get two opinions, do your rehab religiously but don't rush you recovery. |
|
