The ACL or the anterior cruciate ligament is a ligament which connects the knee’s femur and tibia bones. It is an important section of the leg as it supports and provides flexibility to the legs. It's been reported which around 10,000 people suffer from an ACL tear injury, and thus requiring a surgical treatment and an ACL physical therapy . It usually takes four or five months before the knee fully recovers.
Shortly after an ACL surgical treatment, the therapy should start. First, you will have to see a physical counselor no less than three times per week. After a month or two, your own sessions with the counselor will be reduced to only once or two times a week. The first phase from the therapy includes a variety of exercises to strengthen the knee. This will be to reduce its swelling as well as to make the muscles around it more powerful. It is also vital that you ice your knee a few times a day during the first two weeks after the surgery. This will help reduce the swelling of the injured knee.
The next phase of the rehabilitation will aim to restore the knee’s capability to move normally. In this stage, your therapist will give you more extreme workout routines or knee exercises. You will also need to take weights in your program and lots of cardiovascular exercises. There are numerous exercises that are designed to increase your capability to maintain balance and stability. In this phase, you'll also have exercises which will make your foot stable on the ground. Some exercises will still be limited in this stage, so the ACL injury won't be aggravated. It is vital that you let your counselor know how much weight you can take and how long you could have a session in your ACL physical therapy.
The last two months of your therapy will involve workouts to enhance your knee’s capability to balance and maintain stability. This is a essential phase of your rehabilitation as it is this time that your knee should be able to return its full-range of motion. You will also have some speed exercises. This stage of the therapy is extremely important, and so you will not be permitted to proceed to this stage in case your knee continues to be swollen. You should be able to move your knees completely already, as if it was normal.
The final phases of your ACL physical therapy are so crucial that it could see whether your knee is going to be strong enough to resist any ACL injuries later on. You shouldn’t worry or get scared if you can still feel some pain or discomfort within the damaged knee area as you get to the final parts of the therapy.
Shortly after an ACL surgical treatment, the therapy should start. First, you will have to see a physical counselor no less than three times per week. After a month or two, your own sessions with the counselor will be reduced to only once or two times a week. The first phase from the therapy includes a variety of exercises to strengthen the knee. This will be to reduce its swelling as well as to make the muscles around it more powerful. It is also vital that you ice your knee a few times a day during the first two weeks after the surgery. This will help reduce the swelling of the injured knee.
The next phase of the rehabilitation will aim to restore the knee’s capability to move normally. In this stage, your therapist will give you more extreme workout routines or knee exercises. You will also need to take weights in your program and lots of cardiovascular exercises. There are numerous exercises that are designed to increase your capability to maintain balance and stability. In this phase, you'll also have exercises which will make your foot stable on the ground. Some exercises will still be limited in this stage, so the ACL injury won't be aggravated. It is vital that you let your counselor know how much weight you can take and how long you could have a session in your ACL physical therapy.
The last two months of your therapy will involve workouts to enhance your knee’s capability to balance and maintain stability. This is a essential phase of your rehabilitation as it is this time that your knee should be able to return its full-range of motion. You will also have some speed exercises. This stage of the therapy is extremely important, and so you will not be permitted to proceed to this stage in case your knee continues to be swollen. You should be able to move your knees completely already, as if it was normal.
The final phases of your ACL physical therapy are so crucial that it could see whether your knee is going to be strong enough to resist any ACL injuries later on. You shouldn’t worry or get scared if you can still feel some pain or discomfort within the damaged knee area as you get to the final parts of the therapy.