How to Prevent Reinjury After ACL Reconstruction

ACL injuries commonly occur during sports or activities that involve abrupt pressure on the knees, such as soccer, football, gymnastics, and more, making it the most common lower-limb injury among athletes.

During ACL reconstruction surgery, an orthopedic surgeon will remove the torn ligament and replace it with a piece of tendon from a different area. The surgery is performed with minimally invasive incisions around the knee, and with new innovations in sports medicine and orthopedic surgery, modern ACL reconstruction techniques have led to a declining rate of re-injury of the reconstructed ACL. However, a high risk still remains, as the rate of reinjury among athletes ranges from 20-40%, according to an article published by the American Journal of Sports Medicine.1

There are several factors that could lead to re injury of the ACL, and it’s important to do everything possible to reduce the risk of reinjury the first time around by correctly managing the recovery period.

Before Surgery, Consult with your Doctor

For athletes eager to get back to their sport, it is recommended to visit a skilled sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, as they specialize their focus on the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles, with regard to sport injury. Sports medicine rehabilitation includes the assistance of a variety of specialists, such as physical therapists, nutritionists, and trainers to provide a well balanced recovery process and proper re-strengthening techniques to help patients get back to their physical lifestyle safely and prevent further setbacks.

Choosing the right orthopedic surgeon may not be clear at first, however it may be best to visits a doctor that performs the most up-to-date ACL reconstructive surgery techniques to ensure correct position of the graft so that it is in alignment with the native ACL, as incorrect graft placement may lead to re-rupturing of the ACL.

At NYC Orthopedic Group, top sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, Dr. William L. King provides specialty care, addressing a variety of concerns, creating a treatment plant tailored to each patient’s specific needs, and utilizing cutting-edge innovations and techniques in modern sports medicine.

During ACL reconstruction surgery, the orthopedic surgeon removes the torn ligament to replace it with a graft that they insert and attach to the knee. Grafts are usually taken from a different part of the patient’s body, such as the patellar tendon and hamstring, or from a donor patient. It’s important to take age and activity level into consideration when discussing the surgery plan with your doctor.

How to Prevent ACL Reinjury

1. Allow ample time for recovery: A complete graft healing may take 8-12 months, and sometimes longer depending on the patient. While athletes may be impatient to get back to their sport, it is highly recommended to allow ample time for recovery, as the rate of reinjury increases the earlier a patient gets back to their sport due to surgical repair not being strong enough to handle the force of activity.

In a study done regarding the link between time allowed for healing and rate of reinjury published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, four participants who returned to their sport fewer than 5 months after surgery each suffered a knee reinjury within two months of returning. For every one-month delay, the risk of reinjury decreased by 51%.2 It is crucial that patients be advised and educated on the importance of waiting at least 9 months post-operation to begin gradual ease into activities.

1. Improve strength and movement: Strengthening the body and movement plays a major part in preventing ACL reinjury, as 70% of injuries occur within non-contact situations according to an article published by the National Library of Medicine, thus these injuries are due to misalignment within the musculoskeletal system.3

The hip and ankle represent two regions in the body, that when lacking in strength and movement mechanics, could negatively affect the rest of the joints within the region, with more force and pressure being directed to the knee in these instances, it commonly affecting the ACL. During ACL rehabilitation, it is important to incorporate movement and strength training for the hips, glutes and ankles.

1. Regain neuromuscular control: Neuromuscular training involves performing exercises that stimulate the signals and communication of the muscles and joints in order to train the overall unconscious motor responses. This form of training has been proven to increase the strength of the knee joint as well as awareness of balance and technique. A research summary published by Thera-Band Academy compared the effects of neuromuscular training and traditional muscle strengthening, and reported that the neuromuscular training group participants improved significantly more than the muscle strengthening group in functional activities as well as reflex activation of the hamstrings.

A study published by The Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy explains that the reason why neuromuscular training works exceptionally well for patients post ACL reconstructive surgery is due to the following:

1. The nervous system’s ability to produce quick and effective muscle firming patterns increases, which allows for improvements in dynamic joint stability.
2. Neuromuscular training offers a way for patients to relearn and rememorize joint movement patterns and skills.
3. Motor control recuperates as muscles become more prepared to respond to force placed on joints.5

Visit NYC Orthopedic Group

At NYC Orthopedic Group, Dr. William L. King and other healthcare professionals provide the highest-quality medical and surgical care for prevention of orthopedic related injuries or diseases. Dr. King’s excellence in providing attention and care for his patients has been continuously recognized. He offers answers to various questions, offering clear instructions, and prioritizes following up with patients after surgery. Dr. King specializes in treating a variety of orthopedic injuries with leading surgical techniques, including minimally invasive microscopic and arthroscopic surgeries.

Reach out to NYC Orthopedic Group offices of Dr. William L. King today to discuss arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment options.

Manhattan – Bronx – Queens – Brooklyn – Nassau

Phone: (929) 999-1071

Email: King@NYCOrthopedicGroup.com

Sources

1. journals.sagepub.com
2. bjsm.bmj.com
3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4. thera-bandacademy.com
5. jospt.org