Anterior Cruciate Ligament

[M_R_Doll]

A few years ago I injured my ACL. I took my rehab at a sensible rate, doing my physio and eventually building up. But it was a few years later I re-injured it. I had forgotten the advice and played football. It was just a two touch warm up and I meant to go in goal once the game started, I was relatively fit, but rather overweight which didn't help. I returned to exercise slowly, and started a diet, swam, did T'ai Chi, walking and going to the gym and started running again. Aerobics I returned to with caution. I am now only about one stone overweight, and had got to the point of running 6 miles in 50 minutes. I had hoped to do another half marathon. I then started doing a dance class, it's energetic, with some jumping and weight shifting. I re-injured my knee during one of the classes, I think I was possibly wearing the wrong footwear.

What I would like to know is, with the right recovery and rehab period, and the right footwear, could I return to this dancing or should I try a less risky style of dancing? Also, should I limit my running miles? I know I should avoid most team sports and skiing, but is there anything else I should avoid?
Please don't go into detail about what happens during surgery or during the injury because I know about that and when I read about it I feel faint!

[norcalgirl]

My son had a completely blown out knee(ACL-MCL-PCL) that we had repaired in Austria using LARS ligaments.. The recovery time was 4 weeks--now is a D-1 football player.  A friend of his had his ACL repaired this spring---took 12 minutes and he filmed it for U-tube.  Was back skateboarding in 4 weeks.  Check this out--has been available all over the world for 15yrs--just not in US(thanks FDA!)

[M_R_Doll]

Thanks, but they don't seem to want to repair mine, because I seem to be able to compensate fairly well with physio, but of course, it's cramping my style a little....... so I may return to my GP for a little chat seeing as this is the third time...... but if they don't want to operate still obviously I would like to try to avoid reinjury if possible. Although part of me just wants to rupture it totally now so they will operate, because the re-injury is getting tedious. Hope your son keeps well.

[Mingo3434]

Try swimming ALOT. I have had 2 ACL repairs and have found that swimming and stationary bicycle riding is the best thing to do. Some light leg press is also good. Good luck with your knee.

[M_R_Doll]

Thanks, I rehabilitated myself with swimming and T'ai Ci and trips to the gym and walking last time, but I want to know if the level of exercise I eventually returned to last time carries too great a risk. I think the aerobics and running was ok, but I need to know if I should limit my mileage when I return, and if I will eventually be able to return to dancing or if that carries too great a risk of reinjury.