An injury to your ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligaments) requires special care, as the unhealed injury can lead to severe damage in the long run. Your ACL is responsible for stabilizing your movements, helping in turning and twisting, and changing directions. A sudden twisting of the knee or a collision that hits your knee joint can lead to a complete or partial ACL tear. It’s important to see a top ACL surgery doctor in Thane to rule out the possibility of any serious injury to your knee joint. An important question is how soon after an ACL surgery can you resume your sports activity?
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Resuming Sports After ACL Tear
When you can resume sports after an ACL injury depends largely on the level of damage to your knee joints. If the damage is too severe, the surgeon might recommend an invasive medical procedure that involves the removal of the torn ACL. These are then replaced by healthy ligaments from your body or donor’s body. The procedure has become a lot more flexible and easier, as there’s no need for open surgery for ACL injuries. The sports injuries surgeon in Mumbai uses an arthroscope to get a clear view of the damaged ligament and remove it.
The surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure, but the recovery can take up to 8 weeks (depending on the tear). In the first few weeks, you will be advised to use crutches and other walking aids to take pressure off of your knee joint. Once you have healed, you can lose the cane and crutches, but your physical movements will still be restricted.
It’s hard to tell how soon you can resume sports, as every person responds differently to ACL reconstruction. Your body can heal as fast as 4 weeks or can take up to 6 months. It also depends on which sports you want to resume and what level of strength and physical activity it requires.
Do All Types of ACL Injuries Require Surgery?
No ACL reconstruction is reserved for patients who have experienced excessive or irreversible damage to their Anterior Cruciate Ligaments. You’ll probably get better with medication and physical therapy if you have suffered a partial torn. Your ligaments will most likely heal on their own, given that you give your body ample rest.
The doctor will prescribe painkillers and other medication to reduce inflammation and swelling. You can follow at-home remedies to manage swelling and pain. For instance, using a walking aid for a few weeks, icing the injured and inflamed area regularly, and practicing physical exercises (as recommended by your doctor) are a few ways you can speed up your recovery and get back to your routine faster.
If there’s a strain or a partial tear, you can resume your normal activities as soon as you feel better and can move your knees freely. Ideally, your knee should be able and you must move without any swelling or difficulty to get back to your routine chores.