You Will Not Recuperate Without An ACL Physical Therapy

The ligament connecting the femur to the tibia bone is exactly what we call the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL. This ligament is located diagonally in the center of the said bone fragments. This is an important ligament as it gives constant support to the knee and helps the rotator of the knee. A number of studies and surveys have stated that lots of people every year actually have to undergo an ACL renovation surgery. What happens following an ACL surgery can also be vital. Patients are required to undergo a series of ACL physical therapy so that the knee can recover properly in time. There are people who need to have the therapy for a period of 4-6 months but it also depends upon how quickly the patient progresses.In general, it is right after the surgery that the patient is scheduled to receive a post operative treatment. The doctor will be the one to suggest a physical therapist, whom the patient will need to visit around three times each week. Eight weeks following the initial treatment, the appointments can be lowered to twice each week. During the first weeks of the therapy, the individual is asked to perform some strengthening exercises, which supports reduce the knee’s inflammation. These exercises can also tone the injured knee’s muscle tissues. After around eight weeks of ACL physical therapy, or as soon as signs of recovery of the knee appear, the physical therapist will start giving more intense conditioning workouts. At this point of the treatment, the patient is going to lift weights and do a couple of cardio exercises such as using a bike or perhaps a treadmill. There may also be newer and more effective exercises targeted at restoring the balance and stability of the knee.The final stages of the therapy, usually the last two or three months, will include workouts to promote balance, stability and knee muscle strength. There are various workouts for this phase, however one of the most common is the box jump. In this exercise, the patient will have to jump sideways on to a wooden container, which will be put beside the patient. After jumping on to the box, the individual will be asked to leap once again landing on the other side of the box. It is important that both feet land together. These exercises may be difficult at first, but after the individual has regained the full functioning of his or her knee, it will be easier to leap on the other side of the box. It is natural to feel some discomfort and pain during the course of the ACL physical therapy. This is because the leg and the muscles surrounding it are still on the way to recovery.