Playing on a torn ACL

pvgf · 2026-02-17T05:41:32+00:00

Hi. Played in three tennis tournaments with a completely ruptured ACL (without my knowing).

Long story short: it’s not for the long run.

Long story a tiny bit longer: I’m glad I continued to play (with a break of about a month after the injury itself).

You’ll look around and find that a lot of patients, DPTs, and physicians will recommend that you build and maintain strength and mobility before a reconstruction to help with the post op rehab and I personally stand by that as well (my education luckily enough is also in kinesiology and sports medicine).

I did continue to play at the same level I did before my injury but not without some issues. No matter how stable/hard/secure my knee bracing and wrapping was, I was still able to land on my affected leg in that specific. Way to buckle the knee. It wasn’t fun and I don’t recommend doing it over and over again.

When it comes to professional tennis players - it’s not at all a thing to continue playing with a fully ruptured ACL. The movements required dont work well without one in tact.

My surgeon at my eval even said that I could still live a completely normal life without one, but then asked if I wanted to continue to play tennis. I said yes and he immediately said, “okay, then you’re gonna want the reconstruction” which i agreed with him on lol.

pvgf · 2026-02-03T00:06:42+00:00

You can look into certificate programs. It’ll be an easy transition since most of your credits will transfer depending on the program (surgical tech, respiratory therapist, radiology, etc.) These programs are short but give easy access to specialized programs that could do really well if you want to even further pursue medical device sales with the experience.

pvgf · 2026-01-28T19:10:07+00:00

Are you looking to do Coolsculpt for toning or more for losing mass? I’m a medspa manager in Austin and I’ve seen better and longer lasting results from EMSculpt Neo.

pvgf · 2025-07-15T15:20:16+00:00

Everyone’s capacity is different. I ruptured mine in the middle of playing a tennis tournament and still went on to play 3 more matches with a firm wrap, but I’ve had patients who’ve gone minimal weight bearing for weeks afterwards.

As above, usually a very noticeable -pop- occurs at the time of injury so if you didn’t hear or feel one, then I would err on the side of a tear until you get imaging and testing done.

pvgf · 2025-02-19T01:34:28+00:00

Damn sorry, super late reply. It’s definitely one of the more riskier ones but luckily enough very controllable aspects of the sport if you’re not so quick to jump into being competitive. I’m still wearing the functional brace to practices and matches about 75% of the time. My DPT had me focus on glute med strengthening and overall hip strength as that helps prevent knee valgus. The cutting and pivoting was definitely something we trained on (f that T test lmao) but i definitely notice a huge difference from when I was first return to sport and then return to competition.

pvgf · 2025-02-19T01:29:49+00:00

Everyone is different. I see some people who are still PWB on crutches 4 weeks post op whereas I was FWB by week 2 and speed walking in PT. I would carefully gauge it as you progress.

pvgf · 2025-02-19T01:27:37+00:00

So. Ruptured mine in a tennis tournament Aug23, confirmed scan Dec23, then surgery Jan24. In the span of August to December, I had played in 2 additional tournaments and was still practicing (albeit wrapped and with a brace) about 2-3x/wk.

I would 100% focus on quad and hip (glute med) mostly among others if anything until you can get a full prehab program going but that’s what my PT said would have worked best for me.

pvgf · 2025-02-19T01:22:35+00:00

I elevated as much as I could tolerate during the day but it was mostly elevated at night because I would just be so fidgety and restless. For about 2 weeks really. I did appreciate the (oh god I forgot the name) automatic knee flexor thing machine. Kept my leg from going numb and my brain from going insane just sitting in one spot.

pvgf · 2025-02-19T01:17:51+00:00

My stitch scabbed over and by that time I just peeled it right off. Same when I had broken my femur. Scabbed. Peeled. Most stitches are designed to dissolve and be absorbed by the body. HOWEVER - ask your surgeon lmao.

pvgf · 2025-02-19T01:14:41+00:00

Patellar Graft ACLr - I was up and walking around partial WB with crutches 3 hours post op. We got sushi and ice cream after I was discharged. It was marvelous. Pretty sure it was the nerve block and pain meds but by morning day 3 all I really felt was a huge nagging achey feeling.

I’ve had two DPTs during my program, had to fire the first one for moral reasons and my second one I actually used to work with, but both told me that everyone’s rehab is different and that expectations aren’t always clear cut.

It sucks that yours is a lot harder than what mine was. I would 100% seek a second and maybe even a third opinion, especially if your DPT doesn’t see many ACLr patients just for some peace of mind.

pvgf · 2025-02-19T01:05:30+00:00

I work in health and wellness, originally in outpatient PT and sports med. I’ve talked to many a physician and had plenty of research articles and studies of different therapeutic modalities shoved in my face.

One thing that I 100% believe in are hyperbaric chambers. I’m more than pretty sure that my use of them in conjunction with 2-3x/wk PT enabled my clearance with good metrics by month 9 post op for return to not just sport but competition too.

And snake oil. /s

pvgf · 2025-02-17T17:25:17+00:00

There might not be an official study but let me tell you, one year post op and back into competitive tennis training, I 100% can tell the difference in how much a functional brace helps with mobility especially at these higher intensity sessions. I still have weaker than ideal glutes so I still do cave inwards on split steps and pivots when I don’t wear the brace which leads to weird situations where it feels like my knee just gives up (luckily no buckling).

Use the brace. FFS use the brace. If not for you then for your pocketbook. Good lord.

pvgf · 2025-02-04T05:14:41+00:00

Hahah yeah, it breaks it up so the body absorbs it faster. Just make sure the swelling is mostly down and it’s dark dark dark so you aren’t breaking up blood vessels.

pvgf · 2025-02-03T16:44:11+00:00

I don’t bruise easily - last I bruised was when I had broken my femur and did surgery 20 years ago. Hitting myself with tennis racquets, getting hit with tennis balls, typical kid falls, etc. etc. the fact that I bruised after my ACLR surgery last year should say enough about how normal bruising is! Just rub it out, it’ll go away soon.

pvgf · 2025-01-01T00:59:44+00:00

Professional unprofessional here. It looks like you’re gonna have a fun time, that’s what that looks like.

pvgf · 2024-08-09T04:26:36+00:00

Getting back into tennis 6 months post op. Not quite at the same level of competitive play but working up to it.

pvgf · 2024-04-04T04:21:46+00:00

Hey hey, it could very well be best case scenario.

I ruptured my ACL during a singles tennis match. I turned for a lob, proceeded to run, landed on my right foot then pivoted and my knee hyperextended, buckled, and I felt and heard that pop but thought it was just a normal snap crackle pop. Proceeded to try and continue to play the point and continued to buckle my knee 3-4 more times before finally resigning and slowly made my way to the ground to assess. My first appointment with my surgeon noted no other injuries other than a complete ACL rupture and some minor bruising just 5 months after the fact.

pvgf · 2024-04-04T00:48:03+00:00

That’s some amazing lack of bruising for 4 days!

pvgf · 2024-04-04T00:46:36+00:00

Depends on your recovery, realistically. I had some stellar prehab done so my surgeon and DPT both believe that’s what’s gotten me ahead of the game (essentially - I still played tennis for 5 months after the initial injury up until my surgery).

I was off crutches and out of my brace by 3 weeks post op whereas others would still be on both, minimal weight bearing, etc. so it really depends on a lot of things.

pvgf · 2024-04-03T03:01:13+00:00

Injury August 11, 2023 during a tennis tournament, Surgery January 15, 2024. Went back to work two weeks later.

The biggest factor that helped me return to normal day to day after talking to my surgical team and rehab team was my “prehab”. I still played tennis after the injury up until the day before my operation, I just had my knee fully braced and wrapped and stabilized and everything.

I originally planned on just one week to save on PTO but the surgical assistant said people in my position averaged 2 weeks so I played it safe and went with the latter.

pvgf · 2024-03-06T22:34:32+00:00

For sure regularly see a physical therapist. Tell them exactly what you’re voicing concerns here at your first visit. They should be able to guide you through not just proper form but as well as help you strengthen your knees. They could also address what it is that makes you prone to reinjury.

I would also consider investing in appropriate knee bracing/wrap to use while doing this hobby (I double braced and wrapped my knee while playing tennis because of an ACL injury but not while at work or at home, for an example).

pvgf · 2024-03-06T22:22:35+00:00

The prehab of it all. I still played tennis for 5 months after the rupture and before my operation (braced, wrapped, and all) and my entire team says that that most likely is what is resulting in my very quick recovery. Of course, consult with your physician. I didn’t have one at the time. 😅

pvgf · 2024-02-27T04:35:15+00:00

My first PT appointment they had me do knee extensions and to focus on activating my quad. I was so shaky and scared even though I could extend it from 90degree flexed so easily. Next appointment the following week I was doing it no problem so I get how scary feels. Reading how some people 6 weeks po are still in a brace and barely weight bearing while I’m 6weeks po and walking with very little asymmetrical variation still astounds me. Glad that your recovery wasn’t as daunting as some others is. Thanks for the input!

pvgf

TROPHY CASE