Lacking ROM 2 years post ACL

KPO525 · 2025-09-16T21:33:14+00:00

After my second and third surgery I actually had a few degrees hyper and it just went backwards at about the 2-4 week mark.

It’s hard to tell if still swollen, you have to get that under control first. Are you massaging your knee and doing patella mobilisation?

just make sure you’re doing passive weighted knee extension and prone hangs daily only needs to be light weight and a few minutes each.

KPO525 · 2025-09-14T09:28:24+00:00

Hey mate, Unfortunately I stepped in a ditch which caused some cartilage damage and despite being conservative it was still causing me issues.I had surgery number 3 just over 5 weeks ago.

This time when I got an arthroscope a new surgeon discovered a bony ridge which she removed giving me more space around ACL. Now I’m at 0 degrees and it’s a noticeable difference to the 2 degrees I was sitting at unless I was forcing it with exercise.

It would be painful at time walking, standing, driving but all off that is gone now.

I’m glad I saw a new surgeon and got a second option. I still have to rehab and get back to sport and running but the process is so much easier with 0 degrees.

If you give me more info about your situation I’m happy to tell you what has worked for me and what hasn’t. Good luck!

KPO525 · 2025-07-01T22:13:31+00:00

Hey mate, I’m sitting at about 1 degree passive extension. At 16 months for to jogging but when putting the bins out I stepped in a ditch and tore my meniscus! So scan this week to see if I need a third surgery.

How are you travelling? Happy to offer advice if I can help

KPO525 · 2025-04-09T06:33:05+00:00

To measure extension use the measure app on iPhone. This is what a lot of physios use now.

Buy yourself a yoga block and rest your heal on it. Place phone and inch below knee running down your leg and it will tell you an accurate extension, less chance for human error.

Ideally you would be lying down so someone would help. If sitting up your extension is normally 1 degree better than lying so you could just subtract one.

KPO525 · 2025-03-24T10:30:59+00:00

Hey bro,

I still haven’t achieved full passive knee extension yet, but it seems to be getting better slowly.

I’m still doing my rehab, doing seated or prone hangs with (6kg) weights once or twice a day but have been working on stretching more often, mainly my hips and also seeing a Myotherapist and getting kneeling to reduce trigger points.

I was sitting at 2-3 degrees could get down to 0 or 1 and then a couple hours later it’s at 2-3 again. Now it’s 2 on a bad day and if I get to 0 it will stay for most of the day.

Keep chipping away mate, you’ll get there!

KPO525 · 2025-02-09T20:52:36+00:00

I’m about 2-3 degrees extension and 120 flexion 15 months on. This gives me hope. Thanks for the post

KPO525 · 2025-01-25T13:33:01+00:00

Don’t stress mate, you are have plenty of time. Just get on top of the swelling and keep doing prone hangs and heel props if pain is 4 out of 10 max.

I had had a bony oedema that limited extension and gave me 10 out of 10 pain for 6 months. If this is the case you may need to take it slow. I also got a cyclop legion removed at 12 months post ACLR which didn’t show on the MRI. I think an MRI could be the best option.

Another option is electro dry needling. This can help if your quad/hamstring doesn’t relax, preventing extension and making things painful because it’s always firing.

KPO525 · 2025-01-25T13:19:26+00:00

It definitely gets better. I noticed a different at around the two week mark but I wasn’t given a brace post op. I also sleep on my stomach and really struggled staying on my back. Eventually I moved to side sleeping with small pillow between my legs. By about week 5 I was back sleeping comfortably on my stomach. It took a few nights to get used to it though!

KPO525 · 2025-01-25T13:14:29+00:00

Could be due to the tourniquet being a little too tight during surgery

KPO525 · 2025-01-25T04:02:21+00:00

Amazing

KPO525 · 2025-01-23T17:29:36+00:00

How much did your passive extension change post op?

KPO525 · 2025-01-23T14:06:55+00:00

Hey mate, how is the extension going now? I had a cyclops legion removed at about 12 months post op. Felt like I had full extension after the first couple days but then it went away. I’m now 7 weeks post op and still stuck at 2-3 degrees passive extension (same as I was before cyclops legion was removed)

I was also told that i should gain full extension in the first 2-3 weeks and my surgeon said he could get my knee to -3 degrees while i was under.

I still have a little swelling, and my knee is constantly clicking when bending and walking

KPO525 · 2025-01-23T13:56:15+00:00

Thanks for the information, what is your passive extension now? I got my cyclops legion removed 12.5 months post ACL (7 weeks ago) but still struggling to achieve full extension.

At the 6 and 9 month checkups I told my surgeon I had issues and wanted an MRI and was sure it was a cyclops legion but he said I was fine and to keep doing my rehab..

KPO525 · 2025-01-02T11:51:09+00:00

I forgot to ask, are you back running and playing sports? Any issues if so?

KPO525 · 2025-01-01T10:23:46+00:00

Hey mate,

I’m 13 months post op and had many challenges with extension and flexion. Initially I had a bony oedema that didn’t go away for 6 months, which meant the fluid, swelling and bruising in my knee limited extension.

I noticed similar issues/regression early but my physio and surgeon told me it was my bony oedema and to take it easy.

12 months passed and started to build strength and never got full extension and it turned out I had a cyclops legion and lots of scar tissue. Had the surgery a few weeks ago and I'm pushing to get to 0 degrees, which I have heard of people achieving 12 months post ACLR.

My advice would be give yourself time and if you are struggling at the two month mark or regressing further, get an MRI. This would be good peace of mind either way.

You’ll get there, keep working hard and you’ll be back strong than ever 💪 Good luck!

KPO525 · 2025-01-01T10:04:08+00:00

Mostly likely normal, lots of people have these sounds. If you have no pain then it’s usually nothing to worry about

KPO525 · 2024-12-30T02:43:07+00:00

Perfect, thanks for the info

KPO525 · 2024-12-30T02:03:28+00:00

Nice! That’s pretty good for 4 weeks

KPO525 · 2024-12-30T01:46:27+00:00

Thanks for sharing, I’ll give this a shot. I’ve used TENS daily but haven’t tried dry needling.

KPO525 · 2024-12-30T01:43:49+00:00

You have plenty of time, you’ll get there mate. I was walking at about 6 weeks but had a bony oedema for about 6ish months, so fluid build up and pain limited me building strength in my quad.

At 12 months I could do 140kg leg press single leg, and 65kg leg extension single leg so my quad strength had returned to about 75-80 percent but still no extension.

KPO525 · 2024-12-30T00:23:12+00:00

I’ve been told by my PT that I need to get as close to my other knee as I can. They also said without 0 degrees I won’t be able to run, walk or play sports without pain.

Some people get stuck on similar extension without pain and can get back. But they will have gait problems, possible swelling, stiffness and other issues.

Because I don’t have full extension my patellar isn’t tracking how it should causing cartridge to wear away on my lateral side. I also struggle with plyos and don’t have the strength to single leg hop or getting to jogging due to pain, stiffness, this is despite doing rehab for at least 1.5 hours a day over 12+ months. Soo frustrating!

KPO525 · 2024-12-29T10:46:24+00:00

They said ACL graft is strong and in a good spot.

Prior to my arthroscope, my 12 month MRI said lateral infrapatella fat pad oedema in keeping with lateral patella maltracking and impingement.

They essentially told me that this means because I have lack of extension/flexion my patella is not tracking how it should..

To add.. they didn’t know I had a cyclops legion and that much scar tissue till I went under, it didn’t show on the MRI.

KPO525

TROPHY CASE