ACL tear & snowboarding
So just got back from the specialist and he has confirmed I’ve busted my ACL. Whether it is partial or complete rupture, we are waiting on the MRI results.
Anyone on here got any experience or info on snowboarding with an ACL injury.
I think you will find it depends on how stable your knee is. Some people can’t do much other than walk while others seem to be able to continue with physical activities. This would be up to your physio to advise.
spaz has been snowboarding with an ACL tear for the last couple of seasons. I’m sure he will give you some info about his experience.
It’s best to wait for your results and also get a professional opinion from both surgeon/specialist and a physiotherapist. Each case is different and there are different approaches.
If you need surgery, you can also look into LARS surgery. This uses an artificial ligament and greatly reduces the rehab time (and they don’t need to take tissue from your other hamstring). http://www.larsligament.com/english/index.html
I think you will find it depends on how stable your knee is. Some people can’t do much other than walk while others seem to be able to continue with physical activities. This would be up to your physio to advise.
spaz has been snowboarding with an ACL tear for the last couple of seasons. I’m sure he will give you some info about his experience.
It’s best to wait for your results and also get a professional opinion from both surgeon/specialist and a physiotherapist. Each case is different and there are different approaches.
If you need surgery, you can also look into LARS surgery. This uses an artificial ligament and greatly reduces the rehab time (and they don’t need to take tissue from your other hamstring). http://www.larsligament.com/english/index.html
Thanks for the reply. The surgeon mentioned LARS surgery as the better option but I’m uninsured so I either pay out of pocket or sign up and wait for the 12 month waiting period to end for existing injuries.
Will be keen to hear what Spaz has to say about it all.
Both my surgeon and physio think I might still be able to board this year, just working out how we can make it happen.
Sorry to hear about your knee. I can sympathize being a physio and having done mine 3 times!
The main issue with an ACL deficient knee is stability, as the ACL provides most of the stability in the knee together with the PCL. Having said that, if you have a complete rupture, any sports that require sidestepping, turning etc are very unlikely. However, as snowboarding your feet and knees are fixed less stability is required and you MAY be able to get away with it. I know some who have put surgery off for years and others that needed it asap! I definately needed to get mine done as I was returning to soccer and my knee was giving way even walking.
I would recommend surgery though (at some point) They are very successful and after rehab, the operated knee is generally even stronger than the other. With the Lars ligament, I do believe the only use this technique if it’s only a few weeks post injury and not too far down the tract.
Anyway, if you are doing this season with no ACL, I would highly advise doing lots of quads strengthening exercises!! The muscular system can provide some stability and the stronger your quads the more it’s going to support your knee. A physio can prescribe you with a strengthening program. For future reference as well, the stronger your quad is pre surgery, the better you will be post op.
All the best and let us know how you get on.
The surgery will have to be a while down the road as I can’t take the time off work for the recovery so we have pretty much ruled out LARS which sucks cause the recovery time is so much better. I’ve had hamstring problems since my last ACL recon, went with the hamstring harvest method.
Good to know that the quad strengthening exercises will not only help me board this year but also assist in post op surgery.
Do you use a knee brace or strapping at all?
Thanks for the advice, I’ll definitely bring it up with my physio and surgeon.
I don’t wear a knee brace and I don’t strap my knee anymore but my last reco was 4 years ago now.
I would definately advise strapping over a brace. A brace will provide general support but you can use tape to specifically support a certain structure. Ie you can tape your knee in such a way to help provide some stability the ACL would provide (obviously not nearly as much- but it can help) I would ask your physio to teach you how to strap specifically for an ACL deficient knee, on your own.
Any new yet if it’s partial or full rupture?
I’m booked for the MRI on the 30/5 so just playing the waiting game atm. Will post an update when I find out.
Have replied to NthLights via PM.
I have full rupture of acl and tears on meniscus as well as other damage around the knee that occurred at the time -2010 (bone bruising, cracked bone and cartilage damage). Also have previous injury on same leg (2008) - strained (tear) calf muscle from ankle to back of knee - there is still a knott in calf 5 years on.
The biggest problem I face is fluid build up (swelling).
I find boarding creates less pain than walking. The main recovery activity I have done is snowboarding so may have trained my body to that activity.
A neoprene brace helps reduce the fluid build up and supports the knee if I have a stack or land wrong, while strapping takes away stability issues (additional strapping helps with swelling as does compression pants and compression tubes/stockings. Make sure to also apply compression to your foot with good socks.
The brace does prevent full knee bending because of the neoprene behind my knee so I struggle with tweaking some grabs like a method, toward the end of the season (when my legs are at full strength) I ride without a brace so I have full movement (but take the risk that a stack could re dislocate my knee).
My injury occurred coming up short on a table top and hit the knuckle of the the landing when travelling at 40-60kmh.
ICE IS A NO GO - it tends to lock the swelling (after activity) in your leg. Heat packs, long hot baths and elevating the legs is great! supplemented with anti inflammatory drugs (neurofen or voltarin - I use 400mg of brufen every 6 hrs when swelling is causing discomfort).
I also strap my ankles for extra support and have found I can board to 98% of my pre ACl injury (about 85% without ankle strapping). This may not be related to ACL.
Strapping without neoprene brace (brace has metal on either side, that are hinged, in pockets - cost $120)
I agree with all that Becky has said.
And your young and in a good position to take full advantage of surgery. Putting it off will induce arthritis and require multiple surgery’s later.
NOTE: I am an exception to medical learning, while most people require 6 weeks until surgery I was ready in 4 days. Fractured bones on me heal in days (not 4-6 weeks). Muscle strains and tears are good within a week. I was boarding 5 days after my ACL rupture. And I’m 40 years old.
Although applying my intuition to others does aid their recovery it is often shunned by medical practice. After saying that, medical professionals do support my recovery process with the comment of “keep doing what your doing because your healing when you shouldn’t be.”
Medicine is a young science with a 30% success rate. Our mind has a greater success of curing ills than that.
A patient must first believe they are healing before medicine will work.
Such an intriguing discussion about ACL. And I would never have found it had I not been now faced with problems myself.
Took an impact blow from hitting a corrie about 2 weeks ago in the park, thought I just graized my knee, although the pain was excruciating and the swelling immediate, assumed it was just another park war wound…
Kept riding that day and then the entire next day (where I did some of my best riding ever)... However, it’s been a bit of time and I still have swelling, a wobbly knee with what feels like lightening strikes when I apply pressure to where the blow was.
I’ve been riding all weekend and find walking more painful that snowboarding - stairs are the devil and so is alcohol.
Went to my very skilled chiro yesterday who I thought was going to relocate my knee, I’d ice it and presto a weeks recovery… Turns out she thinks I have blown my ACL and has ordered for and MRI and is talking about surgery etc!
I am so against fiddling with a joint, has anyone ever successfully rehab’d without surgery?
Hey Northern Lights,
I did my ACL in July 2014 and had to have reconstructive surgery.
The best advice i would give you about getting back on your board would be to take it slow and ease back into it.
It definitely gets better with time, i promise.
Doing a lot of squats at the gym will be a major help as well as it will help strengthen all the muscles round your knee protecting your new graft.
Hope that was helpful.
If you have any there questions feel free to message me.
Sabrina.
Injuries may occur while playing games, street crashes or activities of day by day living that result in a sudden injury. In phenomenal conditions, minor twisting while at the same time walking around uneven surfaces may incite to ACL tears. Acl tear treatment is the best option so visiting the knee specialist will be a wise decision and helpful.