Torn ACL

[Grinder]

I'm 16 and a high school tennis player. Our season is in the spring around the end of March. I tore my ACL playing football about a week ago and I am having ACL Reconstructive surgery on October 14, I am scared that I may not be able to play tennis by the time season starts. Has anyone here ever had ACL Reconstructive surgery or a torn ACL and how long was it before you hit the courts and played competetive tennis again.

 

[TENNIS2]

Hi Grinder, your surgeon should be able to provide some info regarding recovery time and level of mobility afterward. I don't have much experience about this but from the little that I know, you should be able to play tennis again. Good luck.

 

[Grinder]

Hi Grinder, your surgeon should be able to provide some info regarding recovery time and level of mobility afterward. I don't have much experience about this but from the little that I know, you should be able to play tennis again. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply, my surgeon has said I should be able to play all out in 6 months. However, I want to get some opinions from people that have personal experiences.

 

[waves2ya]

You'll play tennis again as long as your MCL and cartilage are ok.

Don't rush back to the courts. At 16 you need to prepare for a lifetime on that knee; rehab, lift (hams/glutes), run drills and then get back to it.

Allow for 6 mo's to 18 mo's. And don't do anything stupid - you'll have to live with yourself...

('92 ACL rehab RL; telemarking backcountry...)

 

[couch]

Grinder,
It will take a good 6-9 months before you "should" go full-speed. It will probably take a year before you feel close to 100% however. I tore mine in 98' and I haven't looked back. I feel like I made a full recovery after about a year. I wore a brace for a few months and stopped as soon as I felt comfortable. Just make sure you do your rehab and listen to your doctor. You'll be back on the courts before you know it.

Good Luck,
Couch

 

[CrazyScheiner]

I'm 16 and a high school tennis player. Our season is in the spring around the end of March. I tore my ACL playing football about a week ago and I am having ACL Reconstructive surgery on October 14, I am scared that I may not be able to play tennis by the time season starts. Has anyone here ever had ACL Reconstructive surgery or a torn ACL and how long was it before you hit the courts and played competetive tennis again.

That sucks. Good luck with the surgery.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

check the Knee section in my signature, there are some very good knee forums there; should post there too:

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Thanks for the reply, my surgeon has said I should be able to play all out in 6 months. However, I want to get some opinions from people that have personal experiences.

don't do anything that's not recommended by your doc.
Martina Hingis came from an ankle ligament surgery at 2.5 months instead of 5 recommended by her docs. her career was finished after that.

you should work diligently on strengthening your leg muscles before coming back. your accident says you're weak (and prob unlucky).

start rehab lightly: walk in straight line first, stationary bike, then running in straight line, then weights

avoid torsion/rotation/twisting on your knees until solid

 

[liionel]

good luck for the surgery!

 

[Grinder]

Thanks for the helpful replies guys.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

also, check these other threads:

ACL Torn
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=47105

Recovering from ACL injury
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=26856

 

[hampshire6]

Hey I tore my ACL and meniscus when I was like 13. I was lucky though and because of my age the dr waited to do surgery for a bit to see if it would repair on its own and it did. But still I was in one of those crazy braces and crutches/wheelchair for a few months. Whatever you do take more time to recover than less. Your 16, don't try to do too much too soon. With knees its very by case basis depending on the tear.

Also when its fully recovered I would work on making your muscles (quads hamstring) more powerful to take the load off your knee.

hmmm i guess i just kinda said what Marius_Hancu said. Good advice lol

 

[Waimea_Boy]

4-6 months, tops. ACL surgeries are much better know than they were years ago. Rehab is also more agressive. Be sure to follow your rehab schedule very carefully. It's just as bad to slack off on the rehab as it is to rush back to quickly. You should be 100% for tennis season.

 

[Grinder]

Thanks guys, you have given me hope that I will be able to play fully fit by season.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

4-6 months, tops. ACL surgeries are much better know than they were years ago. Rehab is also more agressive. Be sure to follow your rehab schedule very carefully. It's just as bad to slack off on the rehab as it is to rush back to quickly. You should be 100% for tennis season.

this is spot on.

one must know which surgical technique was employed (if possible) and which are the related requirements in terms of attaching the new ligament/tissue to the area (how fast one can start moving with no crutches, place weight, etc). a wrong move during that time, and you might be a candidate for a new surgery:-[

 

[El Diablo]

At your age and presumably hoping to play tennis for quite some time, I'd consider giving up cement courts and the school team and think about limiting myself to clay. Think long-term here. More stop and go forces on your knee on cement. You might manage it on cement for now but at what eventual price. My knee problem was less severe (torn meniscus cartilage) but I gave up running (other than tennis) and restricted myself to low impact training (bike, elliptical) and clay courts with excellent results.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

At your age and presumably hoping to play tennis for quite some time, I'd consider giving up cement courts and the school team and think about limiting myself to clay. Think long-term here. More stop and go forces on your knee on cement. You might manage it on cement for now but at what eventual price. My knee problem was less severe (torn meniscus cartilage) but I gave up running (other than tennis) and restricted myself to low impact training (bike, elliptical) and clay courts with excellent results.

good advice here.

 

[Waimea_Boy]

At your age and presumably hoping to play tennis for quite some time, I'd consider giving up cement courts and the school team and think about limiting myself to clay. Think long-term here. More stop and go forces on your knee on cement. You might manage it on cement for now but at what eventual price. My knee problem was less severe (torn meniscus cartilage) but I gave up running (other than tennis) and restricted myself to low impact training (bike, elliptical) and clay courts with excellent results.

LOL Lots of people play their entire lives on hardcourts. Doing so will not cause knee problems.

 

[waves2ya]

Been meaning to get back to this, too...

You've got advice telling you that you'll be back in 6 mo's. And advice the says you never play on hardcourts again. Neither are necessarily true. Most ACL rebuilds return to field of play (esp. at age 16 and w/ no other attendant damage) on any surface.

Listen to your body. Don't live up to your surgeon's/athletic directors idea of what your rate of recovery should be - 'let pain be your guide' -, rehab diligently and you'll have a lifetime of activity ahead of you.

Best of luck...

 

[couch]

Marius is right, it depends on the type of graft you have. As far as I know there are three different grafts. There are the cadaver, hamstring, and patella tendon grafts. The first two are easier to recover from but the grafts aren't supposed to be "as good". The last graft, which is what I had, is supposed to be the hardest one to recover from but is the stronger graft. The first two grafts are done more arthroscopically and that's why you can recover faster. The last one is more invasive and thus harder to recover from.

One thing my doctor told me is to be real careful at around the 3 month period. That is when you start to feel really good and feel like doing a lot more intense activities. But be careful because the graft itself has not fully healed.

Just follow doctors orders and you will be fine. Oh yeah, I had mine done almost eight years ago and almost play exclusively on hard courts and I do fine. I'm 35 by the way.

Good luck. Keep us updated.

 

[Grinder]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies, they are appreciated. I undergo surgery tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[rws]

Grinder,

Good luck with you surgery. I had ACL surgery in August a year ago so I know where you're coming from. I'm older than you (48) but was very anxious to start playing again. My main advise is to do all the stretching exercises you can - as soon as you're cleared to do so. Don't let it stiffen up! Also, go to physical therapy as often as you can and work on your own at home.

I started hitting again after 6 months but only against a ball machine. I could possibly have started earlier but was hampered by remaining pain in the knee (possibly a slight tear in my meniscus that wasn't repaired).

I started playing competitively after 8 months. Mentally it was tough because your are a little tentative for fear of re-injuring your ACL. I am still wearing a brace and was told to wear it for 2 years when I play. I've gotten used to it so I'm not really in any hurry to get rid of it.

Keep your determination and follow the doctor's advise "to the letter"!

RWS