What To Do When You Injure Your ACL (Part 2 of 3)

Welcome back! Last time, we talked about one way to treat a new ACL injury — the Cross Bracing Method. Now, let’s look at another option: rehabilitation without surgery. This method is also known as non-surgical ACL treatment or ACL recovery without surgery. Some people may still need surgery later — but it’s not always needed right away.

Rehab Your Knee Without Surgery

In Australia, many people get surgery when they hurt their ACL. In fact, about 90% of people with an ACL injury get surgery! But does everyone need it? Not always. Some people can make their knee strong and stable again by doing special knee rehabilitation exercises with a physiotherapist (a person who helps you move better).

At Gold Coast Knee Group, we work with great knee surgeons, and surgery is a good choice for some people. But for others, non-surgical ACL treatment can work just as well. Over the past couple of years, we’ve helped lots of people avoid surgery and still return to sports like soccer, surfing, and skateboarding with ACL injury rehabilitation!

In some countries, like those in Scandinavia, doctors often ask people to try knee rehabilitation exercises for three months before deciding on surgery. This helps them see if the knee can heal without an operation, supporting ACL recovery without surgery.

What Does the Research Say?

Scientists have done studies to see if ACL injury rehabilitation without surgery works. Two important studies, called the Kanon Trial and the Compare Trial, found that about half of people who try knee rehabilitation exercises don’t need surgery. The other half might need surgery later if their knee still feels wobbly or hurts.

For the people who don’t get surgery, about 30% of them show signs on an MRI (a picture of the inside of your knee) that their ACL is healing. When the ACL heals well, the knee often works better, supporting non-surgical ACL treatment.

Can you play sports again without surgery? Yes! Studies show that people who exercise without surgery can return to sports just as often as those who get surgery. Also, the chance of getting knee arthritis (a condition that makes your knee stiff and sore) is the same whether you have surgery or not. The same goes for other knee injuries, like meniscus tears (damage to the cushion in your knee).

If you try knee rehabilitation exercises and they don’t work, you can still get surgery later. Waiting a few months before surgery doesn’t make things worse. In fact, doing ACL injury rehabilitation before surgery can make your knee stronger afterward.

Who Can Try Exercising Without Surgery?

Not everyone can skip surgery. A doctor or physiotherapist will check your knee to see if non-surgical ACL treatment is a good option. Here are some things they look at:

1. Are there other injuries in your knee, like a big tear in the meniscus (the knee’s cushion)?

2. Are other ligaments (bands that hold your knee together) hurt?

3. How old are you? Younger people might need surgery more often.

4. Do you play a lot of sports? If you do, surgery might be more likely.

5. Has anyone in your family hurt their ACL before? This might mean surgery is better.

6. Does your knee have a shape that makes it less stable?

7. Does your knee keep feeling wobbly even after knee rehabilitation exercises?

Talking to a doctor or physiotherapist can help you decide what’s best among ACL injury treatment options. Most people should try at least 12 weeks of knee rehabilitation exercises to see if their knee gets better. If your knee keeps feeling unsteady, you can talk to a surgeon about surgery. Waiting a few months won’t hurt, and you might avoid surgery altogether with ACL recovery without surgery!

Why Skip Surgery?

Avoiding surgery has some big benefits:

1. No risks from surgery, like infections or scars.

2. No pain from the surgery area, like your hamstring or front of your knee.

3. Less pain and discomfort in the first few weeks.

4. Costs less money and less time away from work or school.

5. Your ACL might heal on its own with non-surgical ACL treatment!

What Should You Do If You Hurt Your ACL?

If you’ve had an MRI and know you hurt your ACL, here’s what to do if you want to try ACL injury rehabilitation:

1. Visit a physiotherapist to start knee rehabilitation exercises that make your knee stronger.

2. See a knee surgeon to talk about your ACL injury treatment options. Even if you don’t want surgery, it’s good to hear their advice.

3. Check out this website for more information: https://www.aclinjurytreatment.com/. It’s made by experts to help you decide what’s best for ACL recovery without surgery.

Wrapping Up

ACL injury rehabilitation without surgery is a great option for some people with an ACL injury. At Gold Coast Knee Group, we stay up-to-date with the latest research to give you the best care. If I hurt my ACL and couldn’t use the Cross Bracing Method, I’d try knee rehabilitation exercises first to see if I could avoid surgery.

Next month, we’ll talk about the third option: surgery for an ACL injury. We want to help you make the best choice for your knee during this tough time.

Thanks for reading, and we’re here to help!

Yours in knee health,
Dr Adam Walker
Director and Head of Rehabilitation
Gold Coast Knee Group

📧 adam@gckneegroup.com.au
📞 0408 051 943
🌐 www.gckneegroup.com.au
📸 @gc_kneegroup

P.S. Want copies of the research? Got questions about your own ACL recovery? Reach out anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is an ACL injury?

An ACL injury happens when the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a band in your knee, gets torn or stretched. It can make your knee feel wobbly or hurt when you move.

Can my ACL heal without surgery?

Yes, for some people, ACL injury rehabilitation with knee rehabilitation exercises can help the knee heal and become stable without surgery. About half of people in studies didn’t need surgery.

How long does ACL recovery without surgery take?

ACL recovery without surgery usually involves at least 12 weeks of knee rehabilitation exercises with a physiotherapist. Some people may need more time to feel strong and stable.

Can I play sports after an ACL injury without surgery?

Yes! Many people return to sports like soccer or surfing with non-surgical ACL treatment. Studies show you can get back to sports just as well with or without surgery.

What if exercises don’t work for my ACL injury?

If knee rehabilitation exercises don’t make your knee stable, you can still get surgery later. Waiting a few months doesn’t make surgery less effective, and prior exercises can help your recovery.