The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the two stabilizing ligaments in the knee, can get partially or completely torn – a common injury among athletes. A torn ACL may be grafted, or replaced with a new piece of ligament, ideally taken from the knee or hamstring in a reconstructive surgical procedure.
While surgery is the best remedy for severe ACL tears, it takes time and effort to restore knee strength and mobility. In fact, a big part of the procedure’s success will depend on how well you take care of the knee immediately after surgery.
At JAG Physical Therapy, pre- and post-operative PT is one of our top specialties. We’ll design a personalized recovery program to rehabilitate your knee, making it as strong and flexible as before the injury. Book your appointment at your nearest JAG PT location in New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania today, or read further to learn more about the ACL surgery recovery process.
What Should You Expect in the Initial Days After ACL Surgery?
After the surgery, your knee will feel tender, painful, numb, and stiff. You may also see swelling, bruising, and redness around the knee, especially near the incision points. But all that is completely normal and should go away after a couple of days.
During this time (phase 1 of post-ACL surgery recovery), recovery efforts focus mainly on pain management and wound healing. For this purpose, your doctor may prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate the pain and swelling, along with antibiotics to prevent infection.
Until the knee is completely healed, which normally takes about two weeks, you shouldn’t put pressure on the joint. Wearing a knee brace helps keep the knee in place by preventing sudden rotational movements. Also, you’ll need crunches when getting around to avoid exerting your body weight on the healing knee as you walk.
What Does ACL Surgery Rehabilitation Involve, and How Long Does It Take?
Once your doctor confirms that the knee is healed, you can start post-surgery rehabilitation. Knee rehabilitation after ACL surgery starts with gentle extension and flexion exercises. Your physical therapist will encourage the knee joint to extend fully and flex at 90 degrees. The goal is to restore the knee’s full range of motion before moving on to strength exercises. These mobilization exercises may include:
- Knee extension stretches
- Isometric quad contractions
- Leg raises
- Heel slides
- Ankle pumps
- Weightless hamstring curls
After gaining full mobility in the knee, the next phase of ACL surgery recovery focuses on strengthening the knee joint, quads, and hamstrings. This involves exercises such as:
- Stepping
- Mini squats
- Riding a stationary bike
- Heel raises
- Internal and external hip abduction
- Bridges
- Modified deadlifts
With proper physical therapy, full recovery from ACL surgery takes between 4–6 months. However, you should be able to perform non-strenuous activities – such as walking, slow jogging, or mowing the lawn – after the first 12 weeks of rehabilitative therapy. You’ll likely only walk with crutches for the first two weeks, though your doctor may recommend wearing a knee brace for up to six weeks and/or every time you play sports.
It’s important to have professional PT guidance when recovering from ACL surgery. Although you can perform most knee stretches and strengthening exercises at home, your physical therapist will coach you in using the proper techniques and workout regimen for a safe recovery.
Preparing for Post-ACL Surgery Recovery
ACL surgery is considered a major surgery. But it’s a relatively quick procedure, taking two hours at the most under general or local anesthesia.
Minor or major, short or long, any kind of surgical procedure can be scary. Here’s how you can prepare, both physically and mentally, for ACL surgery for your own comfort and to maximize the procedure’s success:
- Talk to your doctor/surgeon about the procedure—how it works, the risks involved, expected outcomes, and your limitations after the surgery.
- Ask your doctor about supplementing your diet with zinc and vitamin C or other nutrients to help accelerate post-surgery recovery.
- Strengthen and stretch the areas around the ACL with pre-surgery exercises under the guidance of a professional physical therapist.
- Cut your caffeine and alcohol consumption for at least a week or two before surgery.
- Create a supportive home environment, for instance, by installing mobility aids around the house.
- Have a professionally guided post-surgery recovery plan in place.
JAG Physical Therapy: Your ACL Recovery Partner
Look no further than JAG PT for professional post-surgery recovery and rehabilitation services. Our highly experienced therapists specialize in rehabilitating physical injuries, including sports injuries, through personalized therapy programs. We also offer injury prevention among a host of other specialized services. Schedule your appointment at one of our 120+ clinic locations today to get started on the road to recovery.