ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury is a common knee injury, often requiring surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process. The recovery time for an ACL injury varies depending on several factors, such as the severity of the injury and individual characteristics of the patient.
In most cases, it takes about 9 to 12 months to fully recover from an ACL injury. The first phase of recovery involves reducing pain and inflammation, restoring knee range of motion, and regaining muscle strength. This phase usually lasts about 6 weeks and requires a combination of rest, ice, compression, and physical therapy exercises.
After the initial phase, patients progress to a more intensive rehabilitation program. This phase focuses on improving balance, stability, and flexibility in the knee joint. Additionally, patients will start to engage in sports-specific exercises to regain confidence and endurance. This phase can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months, depending on the individual’s progress and goals.
Returning to sports or activities that involve pivoting and jumping requires meeting certain criteria. These criteria often include having full range of motion, restored strength, good balance, and the ability to perform specific agility drills without pain or excessive swelling. Athletes should also have successfully completed a gradual return-to-sport program, incorporating sport-specific movements and gradually increasing intensity.
It is important to note that recovery times may differ from person to person. Factors such as age, overall health, and commitment to rehabilitation exercises can impact the recovery process. Additionally, complications like reinjury or slower progress due to underlying conditions can prolong the recovery period.
Overall, recovering fully from an ACL injury takes time, patience, and dedication to the rehabilitation program. Following a structured rehabilitation plan, working closely with healthcare professionals, and gradually returning to activities can help ensure a successful recovery.
The first question has a simple but imprecise answer: it depends. If your surgery was successful with no complications and you plan to follow the rehabilitation recommendations of your orthopedic surgeon to the letter, the best guess is no less than six months. For some, it can take up to two years to get back to 100%.
We consider non-surgical treatments first, but if the tear is complete and the knee is unstable, or the knee doesn’t heal with non-surgical treatment, surgery may be necessary. The ACL cannot heal on its own because there is no blood supply to this ligament.
By the end of the second or third week, patients usually walk without crutches. Sessions with a physical therapist usually begin seven to 14 days after surgery. During physical therapy, weight bearing is allowed if you did not have a meniscus repair.
Although some exceptional athletes can return to sports in six months, a more realistic scenario after an ACL tear is a recovery time of at least eight to nine months.
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Call your insurance company and ask for a list of doctors near you who take your insurance plan — or use the insurance company’s website to search for a doctor. Then call the doctor’s office and ask them to confirm that they take your plan — have your insurance card handy in case they need to know your plan details.Jan 1, 2021
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Call your insurance company and ask for a list of doctors near you who take your insurance plan — or use the insurance company’s website to search for a doctor. Then call the doctor’s office and ask them to confirm that they take your plan — have your insurance card handy in case they need to know your plan details.Jan 1, 2021
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