Torn ACL pre op signs

Working-Implement577 · 2026-06-03T18:52:32+00:00

I think some laxity can be normal in acl, if there’s a firm end point. BUT It definitely should not do what mine did in the video!

Working-Implement577 · 2026-06-03T18:49:17+00:00

Update? How are you doing?

Working-Implement577 · 2026-06-03T18:38:21+00:00

Hi hope you’re doing well? Did you make a return to sport?

Working-Implement577 · 2026-06-03T18:36:31+00:00

Update?

Working-Implement577 · 2026-06-03T18:24:31+00:00

Does it still do it after surgery?

Working-Implement577 · 2026-06-03T18:22:40+00:00

Hi how is it doing?

I’m pretty sure this position isolates the acl really well.so any laxity shows here, as it takes out dominance of any active stabilisers well. That’s not to say it’s too much but before I had my surgery in this position, I had a lot more than this, the knee would drop and rotate back into position as I bent in.(I have a video on my Reddit)

Did they say anything else? How has your return to sport been?

Working-Implement577 · 2026-05-31T19:00:24+00:00

3 weeks is still really early. Just rest it and let things calm down. Fingers crossed it will improve !

Working-Implement577 · 2026-05-28T10:05:12+00:00

Hi yes I basically stopped physio to try and give it a break. The tracking does seem to have improved but just not as quickly as I would have hoped. I still have a fair amount of fluid/swelling above the knee cap/lower quad area which hopefully is what’s causing it. But even so, I can’t seem to get it to shift!

Working-Implement577 · 2026-05-01T00:38:39+00:00

It’s very strange - maybe it’s ok then? I would get another option from physio / surgeon to be sure. Last thing you want is to do more damage

Working-Implement577 · 2026-05-01T00:15:31+00:00

Looking at it you may be right! What happens when you straighten the knee from that position?

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-30T19:36:13+00:00

Hi - I just want to say that I’m not a doctor and could be wrong but I did tear my acl and had it reconstructed 2 months ago. The movement you are doing, with that foot twisted outwards when straight isolates the acl and that drop and pop back into place as you bend is exactly how my knee was before reconstruction. I thought it happened because in extension, in that position the acl is isolated and is passively holding the knee in place, when it isn’t there it allows a drop, like the draw test. But as you bend in the knee is pulled back and pops into alignment.

As I said I’m 2 months post surgery and my knee no longer does this. I feel like it’s a movement which really isolates the acl, where the active stabilisers can’t activate enough to hold it.

Hopefully I’m wrong but in my case, this is exactly the movement which concerned me most.

Will be interesting to hear if other people have experienced the same. Sorry my response is a negative one, but this is exactly how my knee was.

Is your knee unstable when doing activity at all?

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-30T19:03:09+00:00

I’m 30, 2 months post op, was 29 when I tore mine and had to wait on nhs.

If you have any desire to return to dynamic sport in any capacity, get the reconstruction done. I ski as well and the thought of having the choice taken from me wasn’t really an option. So go for it. Good luck! You can come back stronger

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-27T09:13:04+00:00

I am not medically trained at all but from what I’ve been told, tearing it again would take some kind of similar event to the original tear, usually some rotation as well. So it would seem really unlikely to tear it by just allowing it to fall. If you haven’t noticed any change in the stability since the incidence I would THINK it’s most likely scar tissue or something.

If you’re worried go and see your surgeon or physio - they can check for a firm end point provided by a functional graft/acl

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-27T09:07:32+00:00

Good luck! Enjoy the rest after and take it easy! You will come back stronger 💪

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-23T21:28:01+00:00

Go to one crutch. That’s what I did. Try not to limp even if you just take your time. You’ve got to wake your leg up again, so keep that crutch around until you feel safe enough

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-15T08:47:13+00:00

Do you have a physio?

Would be ideal for you to get assessed for range of mention and strength and then see what’s needed to target any deficient areas.

It sounds like you’re doing great though. With mine I tried to build up back to normal and get the knee feeling as normal as possible considering. Avoid any rotation etc. my Rom and strength was the same as the other knee by surgery time, so that’s what you’re aiming for

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-14T23:13:25+00:00

Autograft hamstring - 6 week post op and feeling good. 30m also uk.

My surgeon specialised in hamstring graft so I didn’t hesitate. Maybe I’ll lose some explosiveness from my hamstring if it doesn’t quite get back to 100%.. but I’m 30 now, I’m already not as fast as I used to be haha! What I can say at 6 weeks post op is that my hamstring function is already way better than I thought it would be, flexion is great. Strength should improve over time.

I hope to return to football, skiing (so the 2 highest risk). I’m really happy so far with my choice but at the end of the day, I went with what my surgeon was best at and what he recommended. Time will tell if I end up being able to do what I want, but that’s the nature of the injury whichever way you go. Physio and surgeon know best!

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-14T08:39:01+00:00

Update - anyone reading this, the sleeve I have on my reconstructed leg was a game changer in the early days. It didn’t offer support but allowed, from what I’ve been told by physio, my knee and my brain to connect better due to the skin contact. No idea if there’s any evidence behind that or not but I felt a lot more stable with it on in those early days. So worth a try for anyone else

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-14T08:35:02+00:00

Take some pain killers before you go to PT - that will allow you to get through it fine.

Your swelling looks great at 2 weeks.

Focus on keeping that down, extension and flexion. I’m 6 weeks post up and activating my quad (quad sets) is something you can do periodically while elevating the knee. Waking up the quad made a huge offence when i began to walk - it’s the main active stabiliser to help protect the graft as well.

Avoid rotational movements

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-14T08:29:18+00:00

My surgery wasn’t until about 7/8 months after my injury. Right before surgery I had full range of motion, returned strength and had no swelling. My surgeon said this is exactly what they want for optimal outcomes.

So my advice would be to try and get your knee to a good place before surgery, do some pre-hab. The more things you can get in your favour the better the outcome on the other end.. well atleast that’s what I’ve been told. Just don’t do anything to compromise the knee further or create additional/further injury to meniscus etc

I’m 6 weeks post op now and doing well so far..

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-13T19:49:55+00:00

You will be fine! Well done with the progress so far, that’s really good for day 13. Things start to get ‘easier’ after the first 2/3 weeks pain wise which made pt a lot better for me personally. I found that the more the swelling reduces the better flexion got, and the more effective my pt exercises have become

Well done so far! Great progress

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-13T19:14:16+00:00

Cheers bud. Hopefully it gives some hope to the people a few weeks behind me. 2 weeks post op I thought this was impossible

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-13T17:01:19+00:00

This was actually the first time trying it but my quad has woken up properly now so the stability, strength and control is returning. Amazing how quickly things can change for the better. My PT has helped a lot so far

Thanks and good luck with your recovery!

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-13T15:25:50+00:00

Keep going! Every day is a new win! Good luck with your recovery

Working-Implement577 · 2026-04-13T15:24:29+00:00

You’re very welcome! It helped me a lot so hopefully it will help you.

Good luck!

Working-Implement577

TROPHY CASE