After ACL surgery, you must take it easy on that knee. I mean it, putting too much weight on it too soon can slow down your healing process and cause more damage than good. Of course, you can’t skip your physical therapy sessions, they are a crucial part of your recovery.
Moreover, you must avoid high-impact activities or sports until your doctor clears you. I mean it, rushing back into action can cause reinjury, and we don’t want that.
For this reason, I’m here to guide you on what not to do after ACL surgery and the most common 13 mistakes people make and how to avoid them.
What Not to Do After ACL Surgery
1. Not Doing Physical Therapy After ACL Surgery
Not doing physical therapy after ACL surgery can totally blow your recovery. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a requirement.
Physical therapy is to help you regain the ability to do daily activities and get back to your sports.
Your physical therapist will guide your recovery with exercises that progress from simple to more complex over several weeks. This structured approach helps with proper healing and full range of motion in your knee.
- Physical therapy strengthens the knee.
- Working with a pro ensures you progress safely through each phase.
- Following a rehab plan speeds up recovery.
2. Disregarding Pain Signals
Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. For example, if you feel sharp pain in the back of your calf it could be a serious issue like a blood clot. Ignoring this can cause big problems and slow your recovery.
When you feel knee pain you need to adjust your activities to not make it worse. Ignoring the pain can cause stiffness, loss of mobility and instability in your joint.
- Ignoring chronic pain can make joint instability worse.
- Continuous pain or swelling? That’s bad news.
- Listen to your body’s pain signals to prevent further injury.
Track your knee pain and adjust your activities accordingly for a smoother recovery.
3. Going Back to Sports Too Soon
We all want to get back to sports after a knee injury but rushing the process can increase the risk of re-injuring your ACL especially for young athletes. In fact studies show that within 2 years of surgery 1/3 of young athletes will get a secondary ACL injury.
This risk goes up to 30% in high impact sports like soccer and basketball if you get back to sports too soon. So delaying your return allows for better recovery of the knee joint.
Athletes don’t reach their pre-injury level of function until about 2 years after ACL reconstruction.
So, give your knee time to heal fully. Not only will this minimize the risk of re-injury but also long term recovery.
4. Not Doing Knee Extension Exercises
Not doing exercises that promote knee extension can totally blow your ACL recovery. Early full knee extension is key to preventing stiffness and healing.
Every year, about 200,000 ACL tears are reported in the United States. About 95,000 of these are full ruptures.
However, regular physical therapy sessions focusing on knee extension exercises not only protects the graft but also reduces swelling and restores mobility. Without these exercises you’ll lose muscle and develop bad habits.
- Full knee extension is required for healing.
- Knee extension exercises are critical for preventing stiffness.
- Consistency in physical therapy is key to reducing swelling and increasing motion.
To get the best results in your recovery combine both active and passive movements that extend the leg in your daily exercises so you don’t complicate things.
5. Overloading the Injured Leg
Too much weight on the injured leg too soon can slow down the healing process and cause complications. Gradual progression of weight bearing activities is necessary for safe recovery.
If you put weight too soon it can destabilize your knee and cause more pain and swelling. Using crutches correctly takes the weight off your leg and promotes recovery.
- Overloading the injured leg will impede recovery.
- Gradual introduction of weight bearing activities is safe.
- Correct use of crutches reduces load and supports healing.
Always follow your doctor’s advice to not put unnecessary strain on your knee during recovery.
6. Not Managing Swelling
Managing swelling after surgery is key as it reduces inflammation and acute pain from knee injuries. Using ice packs and elevating your leg will reduce swelling.
In the early recovery phase elevating your leg above heart level is a proven way to manage swelling. Compression may also be recommended to help with this.
- Elevating your leg not only manages swelling but also prevents blood clots.
- Taking rest periods while applying ice to your knee is key to reducing discomfort and speeding up recovery.
- Compression can reduce swelling by a lot.
7. Not Following Post-Surgery Instructions
Following post-op instructions is key to preventing complications and healing after knee surgery. Following these guidelines will reduce swelling and increase knee mobility.
Here are the key points:
- Post-op guidelines minimize complications.
- Formal therapy meets recovery goals.
- Following pain and swelling instructions makes recovery easier.
Not following these will prolong recovery and increase risk of re-injury. Always follow your doctor’s advice.
8. Not Taking Pain Meds as Directed
Pain management is crucial for recovery. A multimodal approach can manage pain effectively and reduce dependence on meds.
Studies show high patient satisfaction when opioid consumption is reduced through specific protocols.
- Pain management is key to rehab.
- Multimodal approach reduces dependence.
- Strict protocols reduce opioid usage by a lot.
Because of this, never change or miss your pain meds without consulting your doctor. Your recovery depends on proper pain management.
9. Weight Bearing Activities
Weight bearing activities will delay recovery. Resting while gradually introducing weight bearing will support recovery and strengthen your knee.
Using crutches for too long will impede recovery; transition to walking unaided as soon as possible. Always follow your doctor’s activity level advice.
- Gradual weight bearing doesn’t stress the knee.
- Using crutches for too long will delay recovery.
- Follow your doctor’s advice for safe healing.
10. Not Following Blood Clot Prevention
Not following blood clot prevention can be serious. DVT risk is high after surgery, so take your blood thinners as prescribed.
To promote healthy blood circulation and reduce clot formation during recovery:
- DVT risk is higher after surgery especially in leg veins.
- Consistency with anticoagulants is key.
- Compression garments and devices can improve blood flow and reduce clot risk.
Do ankle pumps every 10 minutes for blood flow and clot prevention after ACL surgery.
11. Not Following Up
Not attending follow up appointments will impede your recovery. Regular check ins with your knee surgeon is crucial to monitor progress and address any issues that come up.
Here’s why follow up visits matter:
- They monitor your recovery.
- Follow up appointments allow for adjustments to therapy.
- Early detection of problems makes for better long term outcomes.
You want to recover smoothly after ACL surgery, right? So avoiding these above common mistakes is key.
12. High Risk Activities
High risk activities will increase the risk of re-injury. These activities can also affect the MCL which stabilizes the knee.
Young athletes in high risk sports have higher injury rate; 21% of ACL surgery patients will have a secondary ACL tear post surgery.
Higher activity levels is 6x more likely to get a second ACL injury. High risk sports compromise rotational stability and can further damage the ACL.
- High risk sports activities increase re-injury risk.
- Higher activity levels increases risk of second ACL injury.
- Compromised rotational stability can cause additional ACL damage.
13. Not Using Devices Properly
Using devices properly is key to healing. Misuse will impede your progress and mobility. For example, crutches are for weight bearing on the knee, don’t prop them up with pillows to allow for movement.
Here are some tips for using devices:
- Proper use of devices will make recovery smoother.
- Crutches should be used for weight bearing on the knee.
- Don’t prop the knee with pillows to allow for movement.
Wrap Up
So after ACL surgery there are a few things you should avoid to make sure you heal properly and don’t get complications. First don’t rush into high impact activities or sports too soon. Your knee needs time to heal and if you push yourself too early you can re-injure. Don’t skip physical therapy sessions as they are crucial for regaining strength, mobility and stability in your knee. Ignoring your rehab plan can slow down recovery and increase the risk of complications.
You should also avoid putting too much weight on your leg before your doc clears you. Using crutches as recommended will help prevent unnecessary strain on the healing ligament.
Another mistake is not wearing proper knee support. If your doc prescribes a brace wear it as directed to protect your knee while it heals. Don’t sit for long periods with your knee bent as this can cause stiffness and limit your range of motion. Make sure to gently stretch and move your knee as advised.
Finally don’t ignore signs of complications like excessive swelling, persistent pain, redness or fever. These can be signs of infection or other issues that need medical attention. Follow your post surgery guidelines carefully and you’ll recover smoother and faster. Let me know if you need specific recovery tips!
At the end of the day, patience and follow your doctor’s advice is key. Follow these guidelines and you’ll minimize setbacks and recover faster.
