ACL reconstruction (anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction) involves replacing the ACL using a tendon from another part of your body.
It is a successful option to improve the stability and function of the knee after an injury.
Although it is true that some people with a knee injury do not need an operation, you may be offered physiotherapy, i.e. exercises and a knee brace to support your knee.
This is not possible in all cases, so when we must resort to surgery, we cannot forget the most fundamental part of the post-operative period, rehabilitation.
For the first 2 weeks, the objective is to reduce the inflammation and control the oedema. To do this, we can apply ice 4-5 times a day and walk with partial weight bearing on the operated leg.
We should also make movements on the ankle so that our calf muscles contract and pump blood, thus avoiding oedema. It is also advisable to stretch and bend the knee gently.
Between the 3rd and 8th week, we will focus on gaining mobility and regaining strength. In this phase, a lot of effort is required, as we must reach the limit of pain and hold on. At the same time, the crutches should be progressively abandoned.
From 2 months onwards, we must continue to gain strength and proprioception, where mobility must be complete.
We can start with gentle running, and if we notice pain we can alternate periods of walking with other periods of gentle running. Stretching should also be included.
To do this, we must never forget to follow the recommendations of a professional physiotherapist, as this is the only way to guarantee effective and adequate progress.
