ACL pre-op recommendations

[razors-chaz]

First off, I would like this to be a thread of advice on how best to prepare for getting an ACL reconstruction and not just days before stuff, but weeks i.e. exercise, diet, etc.

I've created this as I am currently awaiting a date for my ACL operation and looking to be in the best possible state for after to minimise recovery time.

My situation is that in February last year i had a twisting fall which weakened my knee but didnt feel so much that i couldnt ski, which eventually resulted in tearing my ACL and meniscus as i continued skiing the rest of the season before really seeking any medical assistance. I spent the summer waiting for appointments for orthopaedics, MRI scans and receiving physio to strengthen my muscles (free healthcare is great but waiting times are a major problem). Finally in August I had the MRI follow-up consultation and was properly diagnosed. I then had the problem that I had been unemployed all summer and fucking bored as shit and that the waiting period was 11 weeks on a reconstruction, I had been offered a seasonal job in Mayrhofen. so took the job to get away from the boredom, put myself on hold for the op and went skiing all winter. Came back fairly strong legs-wise but i don't know what to do to maintain and build on that in the best way before my op. I have no mobility issues from it especially with my brace and was skiing almost at the same level as before just a little more cautiously.

Please help me. I feel the physios i see are too used to dealing with old people and are worried about going beyond what the old people focused guidlines are and so i'm not getting the best from them. Also i've never really been into going to the gym or too caring about what my diet does to my health so looking for better educated opinions/advice.

 

[90053]

First off, I would like this to be a thread of advice on how best to prepare for getting an ACL reconstruction and not just days before stuff, but weeks i.e. exercise, diet, etc.

I've created this as I am currently awaiting a date for my ACL operation and looking to be in the best possible state for after to minimise recovery time.

My situation is that in February last year i had a twisting fall which weakened my knee but didnt feel so much that i couldnt ski, which eventually resulted in tearing my ACL and meniscus as i continued skiing the rest of the season before really seeking any medical assistance. I spent the summer waiting for appointments for orthopaedics, MRI scans and receiving physio to strengthen my muscles (free healthcare is great but waiting times are a major problem). Finally in August I had the MRI follow-up consultation and was properly diagnosed. I then had the problem that I had been unemployed all summer and fucking bored as shit and that the waiting period was 11 weeks on a reconstruction, I had been offered a seasonal job in Mayrhofen. so took the job to get away from the boredom, put myself on hold for the op and went skiing all winter. Came back fairly strong legs-wise but i don't know what to do to maintain and build on that in the best way before my op. I have no mobility issues from it especially with my brace and was skiing almost at the same level as before just a little more cautiously.

Please help me. I feel the physios i see are too used to dealing with old people and are worried about going beyond what the old people focused guidlines are and so i'm not getting the best from them. Also i've never really been into going to the gym or too caring about what my diet does to my health so looking for better educated opinions/advice.

So before my op in December I was told to get my legs as strong as possible before my op, lots of leg press, hip abductor exercises etc. anything that isn't going to further injure the knee that will help maintain muscle mass and therefore minimise muscle wastage post op. I advise you get doing upper body stuff as well because why not, you probably have a lot of free time whilst not being able to a lot of physical activities so might as well. Also flexibility stuff which you could never be bothered to do before will help with things like squats when you start rehab. Try and get in the habit of eating healthily and drinking so you don't put on too much fat. Good luck it gets pretty boring, but it's worth the effort

 

[90053]

First off, I would like this to be a thread of advice on how best to prepare for getting an ACL reconstruction and not just days before stuff, but weeks i.e. exercise, diet, etc.

I've created this as I am currently awaiting a date for my ACL operation and looking to be in the best possible state for after to minimise recovery time.

My situation is that in February last year i had a twisting fall which weakened my knee but didnt feel so much that i couldnt ski, which eventually resulted in tearing my ACL and meniscus as i continued skiing the rest of the season before really seeking any medical assistance. I spent the summer waiting for appointments for orthopaedics, MRI scans and receiving physio to strengthen my muscles (free healthcare is great but waiting times are a major problem). Finally in August I had the MRI follow-up consultation and was properly diagnosed. I then had the problem that I had been unemployed all summer and fucking bored as shit and that the waiting period was 11 weeks on a reconstruction, I had been offered a seasonal job in Mayrhofen. so took the job to get away from the boredom, put myself on hold for the op and went skiing all winter. Came back fairly strong legs-wise but i don't know what to do to maintain and build on that in the best way before my op. I have no mobility issues from it especially with my brace and was skiing almost at the same level as before just a little more cautiously.

Please help me. I feel the physios i see are too used to dealing with old people and are worried about going beyond what the old people focused guidlines are and so i'm not getting the best from them. Also i've never really been into going to the gym or too caring about what my diet does to my health so looking for better educated opinions/advice.

So before my op in December I was told to get my legs as strong as possible before my op, lots of leg press, hip abductor exercises etc. anything that isn't going to further injure the knee that will help maintain muscle mass and therefore minimise muscle wastage post op. I advise you get doing upper body stuff as well because why not, you probably have a lot of free time whilst not being able to a lot of physical activities so might as well. Also flexibility stuff which you could never be bothered to do before will help with things like squats when you start rehab. Try and get in the habit of eating healthily and drinking so you don't put on too much fat. Good luck it gets pretty boring, but it's worth the effort