Knee Injury - advice please!!

RachelG101
RachelG101 Posts: 12 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a severed anterior cruciate ligament, due for reconstructive surgery later this year. For exercise I'm using an exercise bike, weights, fitness DVD (cardio and strength), and some yoga and trying to keep the impact as low as possible on the knee.
Has anyone got any thoughts on exercising that will make a difference whilst not worsening my injury? Is it worth using an elliptical rather than exercise bike?
Any feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks :)

Replies

  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I have a severed anterior cruciate ligament, due for reconstructive surgery later this year. For exercise I'm using an exercise bike, weights, fitness DVD (cardio and strength), and some yoga and trying to keep the impact as low as possible on the knee.
    Has anyone got any thoughts on exercising that will make a difference whilst not worsening my injury? Is it worth using an elliptical rather than exercise bike?
    Any feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks :)

    This sounds like a question for a specialist. I personally find the elliptical trainer to be fairly stressful on my knees, especially if I've ratcheted up the resistance or speed. The bike also is challenging, as I don't have the strongest thigh muscles. Walking on a treadmill would probably be the gentlest of the common aerobic weight-bearing exercises. Do you swim? That might be better still.

    But seriously, if you're scheduled for surgery, you should talk to your surgeon and PT.
  • MartinW76
    MartinW76 Posts: 1
    I had my acl reconstructed 18 months ago. I had a tendon or something taken from my thigh and threaded through my knee to replace it. Now my hamstring is a bit weak so I would do something to strengthen that area if you are having the same op. Also your quad in the leg will lose strength initially so build that. Keep with low impact exercise where your foot is planted such as cross trainer, rowing machine, bike etc. When you have the op, follow the physio's advice and don't try to do too much. I know people who have had 3 or 4 ops on their acl as they rushed things. I still suffer some swolleness at times but I am back playing football and running well. Glad I had it repaired as they were trying to talk me out of it (maybe to save the NHS some cash!!!). Good Luck
  • Bluemountain22
    Bluemountain22 Posts: 170 Member
    I have a severed anterior cruciate ligament, due for reconstructive surgery later this year. For exercise I'm using an exercise bike, weights, fitness DVD (cardio and strength), and some yoga and trying to keep the impact as low as possible on the knee.
    Has anyone got any thoughts on exercising that will make a difference whilst not worsening my injury? Is it worth using an elliptical rather than exercise bike?
    Any feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks :)

    I think the best person to ask would be a physio. Knee problems are complex and what works for someone may not work for you. If you need surgery later this year then hopefully your doctor/physio can advise you on how not to make the problem worse!
  • Shadowsan
    Shadowsan Posts: 365 Member
    I have a severed anterior cruciate ligament, due for reconstructive surgery later this year. For exercise I'm using an exercise bike, weights, fitness DVD (cardio and strength), and some yoga and trying to keep the impact as low as possible on the knee.
    Has anyone got any thoughts on exercising that will make a difference whilst not worsening my injury? Is it worth using an elliptical rather than exercise bike?
    Any feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks :)

    Well...

    ...I went under the knife for an ACL/MCL reconstruction at the beginning of April.

    In the 3 month run-up to the op, I used a combination of recumbent bike, and elliptical trainer, and I also did some reasonably light straight-leg deadlifts to strengthen my hamstring (which is where they took the tendon from to put into my knee).

    Swimming in itself is probably not advised... If your knee goes whilst you're swimming it's not particularly a good thing. if you can get yourself to a hydrotherapy class designed for rehabilitation of a knee injury like this it may help, as would seeing a physio.
  • Iceman1800
    Iceman1800 Posts: 476
    Google Tommy Kono knee sleeves. They provide warmth and some snugness around the joints.
  • froggiesmooch
    froggiesmooch Posts: 1
    with any injury, most importantly listen to your body. don't push too far. biking is probably the best exercise for you. stay away from squats, lunges and those types of exercises that bear stress on your knees.
  • Angel1066
    Angel1066 Posts: 816 Member
    bump
  • Drussander
    Drussander Posts: 266 Member
    I have had my ACL replaced twice. The best thing to do is build up your quads and keep your meniscus safe, so I would suggest using the bike. If you are many months away from surgery, you can use the eliptical with your doctor's permission but I would wear a brace to protect your meniscus.

    Good luck with your surgery. I have been there and the first time can be tough. Just remember, strong quad = quicker recovery.
  • thorpy6
    thorpy6 Posts: 48
    I have a severed anterior cruciate ligament, due for reconstructive surgery later this year. For exercise I'm using an exercise bike, weights, fitness DVD (cardio and strength), and some yoga and trying to keep the impact as low as possible on the knee.
    Has anyone got any thoughts on exercising that will make a difference whilst not worsening my injury? Is it worth using an elliptical rather than exercise bike?
    Any feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks :)

    I had a severed ACL and a ruptured cartilage. you can apparently live without surgery. i was given the option to avoid surgery and just concentrate on strengthening the knee. the answer to doing this is to strengthen the knee through closed loop exercises so:

    leg press
    squats (not too deep)
    deadlifts

    For me it worked quite well but my job means i need the added stability an ACL offers so i had the operation.

    As long as you keep the impact low, do closed loop exercises only (nothing like leg extension where the weight is hanging off the knee pivot) and ensure you build the strength in the muscles surrounding the knee prior to the operation you'll recover so much better. For me several years on the knee is so much more stable than it ever was, my only problem is caused by the cartilage rupture but thats a separate issue.

    hope that helps.
  • Wol5894
    Wol5894 Posts: 127 Member
    You should really ask a physio for the best advice but as someone who has had perpetual knee problems for years (since falling off a horse directly onto my knee), I would say be careful with the elliptical trainer, as it puts strain on the knee in forwards and backwards movements, rather than a more controlled up-and-down on an exercise bike.

    After surgery, I found the 2 best exercises for me whilst recuperating were swimming and also, if you are lucky enough to have somewhere near, walking in soft sand, as on a sandy beach - that really makes you work your balance muscles!

    Also, you need to make sure your quads and ham strings are strong because these muscles help support the knee. However, the watchword post surgery is to build up SLOWLY.
  • oldswimdawg
    oldswimdawg Posts: 11 Member
    SWIM. It's the best activity for knee / ankle injuries.
  • skyeashlee
    skyeashlee Posts: 108 Member
    BUMP
    I have a severed anterior cruciate ligament, due for reconstructive surgery later this year. For exercise I'm using an exercise bike, weights, fitness DVD (cardio and strength), and some yoga and trying to keep the impact as low as possible on the knee.
    Has anyone got any thoughts on exercising that will make a difference whilst not worsening my injury? Is it worth using an elliptical rather than exercise bike?
    Any feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks :)
  • JoanneStone
    JoanneStone Posts: 135 Member
    Please! See a Physiotherapist/ Physical therapist. They are the experts, you do not want to do any permanent damage to that knee!
  • Swissmiss
    Swissmiss Posts: 8,754 Member
    I have a severed anterior cruciate ligament, due for reconstructive surgery later this year. For exercise I'm using an exercise bike, weights, fitness DVD (cardio and strength), and some yoga and trying to keep the impact as low as possible on the knee.
    Has anyone got any thoughts on exercising that will make a difference whilst not worsening my injury? Is it worth using an elliptical rather than exercise bike?
    Any feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks :)

    I think the best person to ask would be a physio. Knee problems are complex and what works for someone may not work for you. If you need surgery later this year then hopefully your doctor/physio can advise you on how not to make the problem worse!

    Agree ^^^ Plus, from what I have heard...biking is not stressful for the knees.
  • RachelG101
    RachelG101 Posts: 12 Member
    Thank you all. Since posting this I've made an appointment to see the surgeon to look at what to do before surgery in terms of avoiding further damage, discuss options to avoid surgery (if any) and help me understand what to expect post surgery. Will update...
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    I have had my ACL replaced twice. The best thing to do is build up your quads and keep your meniscus safe, so I would suggest using the bike. If you are many months away from surgery, you can use the eliptical with your doctor's permission but I would wear a brace to protect your meniscus.

    Good luck with your surgery. I have been there and the first time can be tough. Just remember, strong quad = quicker recovery.

    I tore my ACL. Did not go to the doctor for about four months. Then had surgery this past January.
    I think you are getting some good advice here (see above). They told me that the speed and quality of my recovery was highly dependent on how strong and fit my injured knee was prior to surgery.
    I went out and jogged, and did things like that, before going to the doctor and may have further damaged my cartilage by doing so. I know a lot of people who claim that doctors told them they could not hurt their knee any worse, and they think they did.
    I wouldn't do impact things, but I would swim (if possible), bike (definitely), squat, etc.
    My recovery was really long because I had the cartilage repaired too, but it has gone really well.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories