ACL Reconstruction

[Humble]

I was wondering if any one else has had an ACL reconstruction and if so how has it effected your leg training?

I had a hamstring graft reconstruction at like 16 as I was too young for the other reconstruction methods and was told to do leg extensions back then for rehabilitation.

After all the physio I had done at the time and recently now after all the hours of exercycling I have done I still cannot do a leg extension freely.

I then read apparently you are never supose to do leg extenesions as it puts too much strain on the graft. Yet I was told to do them for rehabilitation. I hope doing them hasn't caused any negative effect on my knee today.

I also cannot hyperextended my knee like my good knee and therefore can't tense as good and sometimes my bones move out of place for a brief second if my legs are  relaxed and crossed as if the knee is not stable.

 

Any one else have similar problems?

[rapz]

I was wondering if any one else has had an ACL reconstruction and if so how has it effected your leg training?

I had a hamstring graft reconstruction at like 16 as I was too young for the other reconstruction methods and was told to do leg extensions back then for rehabilitation.

After all the physio I had done at the time and recently now after all the hours of exercycling I have done I still cannot do a leg extension freely.

I then read apparently you are never supose to do leg extenesions as it puts too much strain on the graft. Yet I was told to do them for rehabilitation. I hope doing them hasn't caused any negative effect on my knee today.

I also cannot hyperextended my knee like my good knee and therefore can't tense as good and sometimes my bones move out of place for a brief second if my legs are  relaxed and crossed as if the knee is not stable.

 

Any one else have similar problems?

Hey humble,

i had my ACL reconstructed about 5 years ago now. i think they grafted my patella though not my hamstring.

anyway - i never trained legs back then anyway so wouldnt know.  but now for the last 3 years i have been training them hard and heavy.  it wasnt until the last 2 months or so ive had niggly problems where i had surgery,  for me personally the hack squats put a lot of pressure on the kness so i have to watch my form closely in any leg movement being squats, leg press etc, i always wrap my knees when i get to the heavier weights just to be safe but i hammer the shit out of leg extensions both heavy, high reps you name it and they havnt had a problem

my knee has never been 100% but i dont find it getting in the way of training them, it gets a bit stiff if i sit arund too long but other than its been good.

[Pseudonym]

My old training partner seems to have tried the entire menu of knee operations, and I'm pretty sure he's had an ACL issue. He was saying recently he's just got back into training legs and was pleasantly surprised that there was no pain.

I'll direct him to this topic and see if he's got anything to add.

[Dinahlady]

I was wondering if any one else has had an ACL reconstruction and if so how has it effected your leg training?

I had a hamstring graft reconstruction at like 16 as I was too young for the other reconstruction methods and was told to do leg extensions back then for rehabilitation.

After all the physio I had done at the time and recently now after all the hours of exercycling I have done I still cannot do a leg extension freely.

I then read apparently you are never supose to do leg extenesions as it puts too much strain on the graft. Yet I was told to do them for rehabilitation. I hope doing them hasn't caused any negative effect on my knee today.

I also cannot hyperextended my knee like my good knee and therefore can't tense as good and sometimes my bones move out of place for a brief second if my legs are  relaxed and crossed as if the knee is not stable.

 

Any one else have similar problems?

If your knee feels unstable and coming out of place it doesnt sound like its working very well as an ACL is supposed to stop those exact things - it could be possible that your graft is in bad shape or failed. You should try and find a specialist and try and get referred to them and bug them for scans to check it. Physios can have a habit of fobbing you off with excuses like "you need to do more stabilisation exercises" but try and push to get a scan or see a specialist to get it checked to be 100% sure - worst case you have a scan and it is all good and you go back to the physio and get more rehab stuff. I'm sure if you told a physio its coming out of place then they might refer you for specialist/scans anyway. 

Source: personal experience with partners ACL issues. 

[MBasevi]

My old training partner seems to have tried the entire menu of knee operations, and I'm pretty sure he's had an ACL issue. He was saying recently he's just got back into training legs and was pleasantly surprised that there was no pain.

I'll direct him to this topic and see if he's got anything to add.

Yeah been there had that. But sounds like you haven't had it done right. It should not be loose like that, I've pretty much buggered everything in my knees I can but don't have that problem. Mine will lock out occasionally or twist it the perfect amount and I'll just drop to the floor like a sack of spuds. But with all my tendon injuries never had what your decribing. The first few surguries I had left me with problems, then I got introduced to the Adidas sports clinic( if it's still called that?) surgeon called Barry Tichens(spelling). He went in and tidied up a lot of shit "that was bloody rough work!" His words there. Also got someone else's miniscus in my right knee. All done through tiny little holes with cameras. Go see a knee/joint surgeon, and get them to have a look at it. They can get them pretty damn good. I have basically given my knees the last 5 years to heal and they are the best they have been in a long time. Don't bother with a physio.then look after them, I'm only 25 and I miss them already.

[Pseudonym]

Cheers for that, bro.
 

I got introduced to the Adidas sports clinic( if it's still called that?) surgeon called Barry Tichens(spelling).

It's now called UniSports...
http://www.sportsmed.net.nz/our-team/orthopaedic-consultants/mr-barry-tietjens/
Don't know why you had problems with the spelling of "Tietjens"!

If you need to see a general sports doctor before the surgeon, I've gone to Dr Mark Fulcher at UniSports. I've seen him a few times now, and can recommend him.