Your knee joint is amazingly strong. Four tough ligaments support it but are susceptible to injury, especially in people who play sports or are generally active.
The four ligaments in your knee are:
All of these ligaments give you stability and protect your knee joint. The one that is injured most often is the ACL, which connects your femur, or thighbone, to your tibia or shin bone. Along with the PCL, it forms an X across your knee.
When patients come to Orthocenter with knee pain, there’s a significant chance an ACL injury causes it. Our providers will ask many questions about your activity level and examine your knee for signs of an ACL injury. Most of our ACL patients have one question: When can I get back to my favorite activities?
The treatment your provider suggests depends on a variety of factors, including, among others:
The most common treatment is ACL reconstruction with an autograph, which means your surgeon uses a tendon from your hamstring or knee cap to replace your torn ACL. Another less common approach is to replace your ACL with one from another source, such as a human cadaver.
Some people forego surgery, but if your goal is to get back in the game, that’s probably not a great option for you, especially if your provider recommends surgery. The re-injury rate for someone who is active is quite high without surgery.
The average recovery time after ACL surgery is around nine months. Although that seems like a long time, recovery tends to happen in stages.
Expect some swelling and pain during the first two weeks. Once the swelling goes down and the pain eases, you’ll start physical therapy to help reduce inflammation and prevent scar tissue formation.
About six weeks after your procedure, you should be able to move more easily. However, you probably won’t be able to bend your knee completely and must avoid squatting. Physical therapy will begin to focus on balance and gentle strength training.
You may be tempted to return to your sport at this point, but it’s a bad idea. Follow the instructions your doctor and physical therapist give you.
By around the third month, you should be able to begin some activities, but only with the permission of your care team. You likely won’t be able to resume activities that require pivoting, twisting, or changing direction quickly.
In the next few months, your physical therapist will probably begin adding sport-specific activities in a controlled setting to your therapy sessions. By slowly adding these activities, you’ll build strength and protect your repaired ACL.
Having an ACL injury can have a surprising impact on your mood and mental health. We recommend keeping an optimistic outlook and participating in your own recovery by doing physical therapy, consuming a healthy diet, and, if necessary, talking to a counselor or therapist.
If you have specific questions about what ACL surgery might involve, we encourage you to talk to a specialist at the Orthocenter location that is most convenient for you. We’re always happy to provide advice and guidance based on your unique circumstances.
