Walking after ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery is an essential part of recovery, but walking too much too soon can be harmful and delay healing.
Overdoing it can slow down your recovery and cause problems.
Stay connected to the end of this post to learn about the risks of too much walking, some safe recovery tips and exercises to help you heal.
Key Takeaways
- After ACL surgery patients need to manage pain and swelling, following a strict rehab plan to avoid complications.
- Walking too much after ACL surgery can cause more swelling, limited range of motion and delayed healing so you need to gradually increase activity.
- Following your healthcare provider’s advice and knowing the signs of overexertion is key to a successful recovery and avoiding further injury.
ACL Surgery and Its Impact on Walking
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important part of the knee joint, it attaches the thigh bone to the shin bone. It’s needed for stability during activities that involve quick movements and is commonly injured in athletes.
ACL reconstruction or acl surgery may be needed after an injury of this nature to get the knee stable and functional again.
During acl reconstruction surgery a graft from another part of the patient’s own body or a donor replaces the damaged acl. The goal of surgery after a torn ligament like an acl tear is to get the knee structure back to 100% so you can get back to your previous activity level with confidence.
After surgical repair of an acl tendon, patients may experience walking challenges due to pain in the knee and swelling and limited range of motion. Care must be taken during early recovery phases to ensure healing happens without problems. Too much strain at this stage can cause problems that will hinder recovery.
Early Stages Post-Surgery: What to Expect
In the first few weeks after ACL surgery you need to understand that pain, swelling and even bruising is part of your body’s recovery. Bruising can last up to 2 weeks after surgery. These are all normal part of your body’s healing process.
During early recovery any weight bearing on the knee should be based on how much pain you can tolerate. Patients will usually start with 2 crutches and gradually go down to 1 as the knee heals.
Of course, this transition is key to not putting too much pressure on the knee which can hinder healing and increase complications.
Walking Too Much After ACL Surgery
Moderation is key during ACL surgery recovery. Be aware that too much walking can cause a lot of problems that will hinder your recovery.
- Increased knee swelling: Too much walking can cause swelling around the knee and more pain and hinder healing.
- Limited mobility: Overloading the knee can cause limited mobility and make rehab harder.
- Longer recovery time: Too much activity can hinder your knee from getting strong enough to recover and prolong overall recovery.
- Higher risk of complications: Pushing beyond your limits can cause complications that may require more medical intervention.
From my personal experience, I learned that patience is key during the recovery process. We need to not only listen but respond to our body’s signals of pain.
There’s a tendency to get back to normal activities as soon as possible after surgery. Giving your body enough time to heal usually yields better results over time.
Recommended Mobility Exercises for Safe Recovery
Also, a study from the University of Virginia found that within 10 years of having ACL surgery 50% of people start to show signs of early osteoarthritis and 33% start to show signs within 5 years of surgery. So it’s important to get the right amount of exercise and rehabilitation to avoid long term problems.
Starting physical therapy as soon as possible is key to recovering from ACL surgery. Doing prescribed mobility exercises will help restore motion and strength in your knee which is essential for full recovery.
Exercises recommended:
- Knee extensions: To get full straightness of the knee, do these frequently throughout the day when you’re seated or lying down.
- Heel slides: To maintain movement in the knee and range of motion after surgery.
- Ankle pumps: By simulating pressing the gas pedal of a car, these help to increase blood flow and reduce swelling.
- Supine knee extensions: By placing a towel roll under the heel as support to maintain extension in the knee.
- Straight leg raises: Necessary for strengthening quadriceps muscle for ambulatory functions.
Generally speaking, Do these exercises daily and recovery will be faster after surgery. Be strict with medical advice and don’t overexert yourself during exercise adherence and precision is key to preventing complications and effective rehab.
Take note: Physical therapy, which usually starts within 7 days of surgery, keeps joints from getting stiff and helps tissues heal.
But don’t just focus on active movements; make sure to include rest periods for your body to heal. Sticking with your therapy plan will get you better results and back to the level of function you had before you hurt it.
Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
Doctors and physical therapists will provide you personalized recommendations. Ignoring their instructions will delays recovery and raise re-injury risk.
As well, Medical practitioners recommend tracking and managing pain. Doing so will aid healing and rehabilitation.
Patients should talk to their orthopaedic surgeon about their recuperation for personalized recommendations. Patients should immediately report odd symptoms like pain or fever, which may indicate serious issues.
Signs You’re Overdoing It: When to Seek Help
The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy released a study that found people who had an ACL reconstruction took about 2,000 less steps per day than healthy controls.
Specifically, only 24% of people who had an ACL repair met the recommendation of 10,000 steps per day, while 42% of healthy people did. So less exercise is normal after surgery and you need to make changes gradually.
Listen to your body during the recovery from a knee injury. To avoid harm and complications, be aware of the signs that you’re overdoing it.
Signs include:
- Increased Pain or Instability: Increased pain or feeling unstable on your feet means you’re overloading the knee, reduce activity and see a healthcare provider.
- Excessive Swelling: If you see swelling in the area, that means too much stress is being put on the injured knee.
- Tenderness: If tenderness around the knee doesn’t go away, you might be doing more activity than recommended.
- Knee Instability: Feeling like your knee can’t support you or collapses unexpectedly needs professional check up.
- Popping Pain: Popping noise followed by sharp pain means possible re-injury and needs immediate medical attention.
Ignoring these signs will put you at risk for complications later on. Be balance between rest and activity and follow healthcare professional’s advice strictly.
Progressive Increase in Activity
Gradual increase in physical activity is part of the recovery process after ACL surgery. Exercise patience and follow proper rehabilitation techniques for safe and effective healing. The guidelines include:
- Post-op walking schedule: Usually patients start unassisted walking 2-4 weeks post-op. Full participation in more intense activities may take 6 months to 1 year.
- Full knee extension: One of the early goals in recovery is to achieve full knee straightening.
- Progression of weight bearing exercises: Patients should progress from non-weight bearing to partial weight bearing to full weight bearing as advised by the clinician.
- Movement with restorative rest: Adequate rest time is key along with exercise to promote healing.
Active people should listen to their body and not rush the recovery timeline the slow pace will build up knee strength and prevent further harm.
Using a Knee Brace for Support
As you can see, using a knee support is part of the recovery process after ACL surgery as it provides stability and reinforcement as you gradually increase activity.
Here’s how using a knee support can help you recover.
- Stability: In the early phase of rehab, a knee support limits excessive rotational movement in the knee.
- Pain Relief: Using a support can give some level of pain relief and psychological comfort, so patients feel more secure during their recovery.
- Injury Prevention: A properly applied support prevents overuse injuries when resuming activities after ACL surgery.
Do not over rely on a knee support prolonged use without necessary conditioning can weaken muscles or reduce joint function.
Having a support device like a kneecap during your recovery will give you added stability and confidence two important elements to get back to normal daily activities after ACL surgery.
Long Term Rehab and Outcomes
As mentioned, to track your progress and alter the rehab program, see your physical therapist often. These appointments will help you recuperate and allow for immediate action if needed.
Some research suggest that knee supports following ACL restoration may not improve clinical outcomes and may even limit activity. Braces can support and enhance movement confidence, but long-term use can damage muscles and joints.
However, 96% of ACL reconstructive surgery patients returned to sports over time. This evidence indicates rehab procedures work and patient compliance is vital to recovery.
Wrap Up
With all of this in mind, be aware of the risks of walking too much after ACL surgery and follow your recovery plan strictly for a proper rehab. Each phase of recovery from immediate post op to long term healing is crucial to proper knee healing and function.
Follow medical advice, be aware of your limits and do the recommended mobility exercises , these are key to safe and effective recovery.
References:
- Hart, Harv, et al. “Patients’ Activity Levels Following ACL Reconstruction Compared to Healthy Individuals: A Step Count Analysis.” Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, vol. 47, no. 5, 2017, pp. 343-350.
- University of Virginia. “Researchers Work to Reduce and Delay Arthritis After ACL Reconstruction.” Curry School of Education and Human Development.
