Physiotherapy is indicated for the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, being a good alternative to surgery to reconstruct this ligament.
Physiotherapy treatment depends on age and the existence of other knee problems, but it is usually carried out using machines, stretching exercises, joint mobilization, and strengthening of the anterior muscles. and hind legs of the thigh, mainly to ensure the stability of this joint and the return of daily activities as quickly as possible.
- Physical therapy can begin on the same day as the knee ligament tear.
- And treatment should be gradual and carried out daily until the individual recovers completely.
- Sessions can last from 45 minutes to 1 or 2 hours.
- Depending on the treatment chosen by the physiotherapist and the resources available.
After evaluating the knee and observing the MRIs, if the person has any, the physical therapist can determine what the treatment will be like, which should always be individualized to meet the person’s needs.
However, some characteristics that can be indicated are
Once the person is able to feel pain free and it is possible to perform the exercises without great restrictions, they can gain weight and increase the number of repetitions. Normally it is recommended to do 3 sets of 6-8 repetitions of each exercise, but then you can increase the difficulty of the exercise by adding weight and increasing the number of repetitions.
Check out here some knee strengthening exercises that, although they are indicated in the video for osteoarthritis, may also be indicated for recovery from an ACL tear:
The number of sessions required depends on the general health of the person, age and adherence to treatment, but generally healthy young adults and adolescents, who do physiotherapy sessions at least 3 times a week recover about 30 sessions, but this it is not a rule and more time may be necessary for a full recovery.
Only the physiotherapist directing the treatment will be able to indicate approximately how long treatment will be necessary, but during the sessions the physiotherapist will be able to continually reevaluate the individual to verify the results and thus be able to modify or add that. other physiotherapy techniques, better in line with the objective pursued.
Going back to the gym or playing sports can take a few more weeks, because when you practice any type of sport such as running, soccer, Muay Thai, handball or basketball, you still need a final treatment, aimed at improving your ability to move. during this type of training.
In this case, the treatment should be carried out mainly with trampoline, bosu and other exercises such as the Rio race, which consists of a lateral race crossing the legs, with sudden changes of direction, cuts and turns. . The physical therapist can personally indicate the best time to begin jogging slowly, such as a jog, or when to return to strength training depending on movement limitation and pain.
This last phase of the exercises is important for everyone, but especially in the case of practitioners of physical activity because it helps in the final adjustments and complete recovery from the injury and also in the confidence of the person to return to the sport, because Si the person returns but not yet if he feels safe, a new injury may occur in that ligament or in another structure.