ACL INJURY ADVICE

In conclusion, there are many advanced ways that your physical therapist can help rehabilitate/prevent ACL injury. Here are just a few:

• Make sure you are seeing a sport-specific physical therapist, if at all possible. They will guide you to rehabilitation in the beginning, but most importantly, directly guide you into a transition phase back to sport. Just being able to pass a jump test that basketball players perform does not mean a tennis player or gymnast can return to their sport.
• Make sure you are seeing an orthopedic educated physical therapist. They know about bones and joints, and most likely have continuing education courses in joint structure and biomechanics. You can always ask your potential therapist about the accreditations and background.
• Find someone certified in ACL protocols, like the Frappier Acceleration ®  method and their “ACL Bridbge Protocol.” There are only a handful of therapists in the USA that are certified, and actively practicing.  This research-based program was developed to maximize the potential of the injured athlete, and return to sport as prepared, balanced, and strong as possible visit OccuSport.com for a therapist near you.

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  • Welcome • ACL-Knee Female Athlete: Intro • Prevention • Health Topics • ACL Injury Advice

• Seeing your therapist as soon as possible after injury (even before surgery) can maximize your potential. Keeping all surrounding musculature strong is very important. Keeping the core strong, or increasing its base strength, is very key to rehab.  The faster the swelling goes down, and the quicker Range Of Motion (ROM) is re-established, the sooner surgery can be performed. 
• Hands-On.  There are many Manual Therapy techniques that can be performed to prevent scarring.  After surgery, make sure that your therapist puts their hands on your knee, to feel the structure, muscle tissue, fascial tissue, knee cap (patella), etc.  A hands-off, exercise based, approach is not going to maximize your output.  There are tendonitis issues to prevent, knee caps to align properly, muscles to train, and scar tissue to break up/prevent that are of utmost importance in the rehab process.
• Most importantly, listen to your doctor’s protocol. A speedy recovery is not necessarily a good one. Be patient, and you will be stronger than pre-injury.  Take this injury opportunity to strengthen yourself, as a whole, and you will see the benefits!!!