How long until you can play sports after ACL surgery?
Following an ACL injury, it is estimated that athletes should be able to return to sport within nine months of surgery.
Can you play sports 6 months after ACL surgery?
The vast majority of people who finish their post-op physical therapy at 6 months do not fully feel ready to go back to in-game play, and for good reason — it’s been 6-7 months (at least!) since you last played a game, and a lot has changed since then.
How long after ACL surgery can I play football?
Three to six months after surgery Many footballers will feel able to return to running at this point, but your physiotherapist may want to make sure you pass further functional tests before giving you the go-ahead to run. It’s important to remember that everyone is different and full recovery can take up to a year.
Can an athlete recover from torn ACL?
“On average, the typical recovery time for an ACL injury and repair, in order to return to contact sports, is at least six months. However, many people cannot return to full activity before nine-to-12 months.”
What can you do 3 months after ACL surgery?
6 Weeks to 3 Months After Surgery
- Perform lateral training exercises such as lunges and side steps.
- Do flutter-style swimming strokes.
- Avoid cutting or pivoting motions.
- Continue strength exercises, and begin sport-specific training.
Can I play football 8 months after ACL surgery?
It’s important that you only return to sport when your body is completely ready. You could risk re-tearing your ACL if you demand too much of your knee before it’s ready. For many people there are risks involved in returning to football less than 12 months after surgery.
When can I kick a soccer ball after ACL surgery?
I encourage them to try and give it 9-12 months (at a minimum). Time questions aside, I don’t allow a return to Level I sport (soccer, basketball, football) after an ACL reconstruction until there is no pain with activity, no swelling, full range of motion, good stability, strength close to equal to the opposite side.
How many athletes tear their ACL a year?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very important stabilizer of the knee. There are approximately 100,000 to 200,000 ACL ruptures per year in the United States alone. These injuries are common in professional and recreational athletes across multiple different sports.
What sport has the most ACL injuries?
At the high school level, girls soccer has the most ACL injuries, followed by boys football, girls basketball, girls gymnastics, and boys and girls lacrosse. Among high school and college athletes, females have two to six times higher ACL injury rates than males in similar sports.
Why is ACL recovery so long?
Like all ligaments, the ACL takes a very long time to heal. The reason is because ligaments are poorly vascularized. In other words, there aren’t many blood vessels to provide nutrients for the ligaments, and without nutrients, tissue repair is not possible. Oftentimes, ACL tears require a surgical graft.
When can I play soccer again after ACL surgery?
When an athlete is injured today, it is expected that arthroscopic surgery will take place a few weeks after injury, that rehabilitation is started immediately, and that the patient is able to return to sport in four to nine months.