leg extension exercises after ACL repair

[JustinC628]

I had the the ACL in my right knee repaired back in September 2007. I'm pretty rehabing on my own at this point, but do any of you guys know if it's ok to do leg extensions after having your ACL repaired? I was on another board and I someone said you should never do them again after ACL surgery due to the stress if puts on the new ACL. So if any of you guy happen to know could you please let me know.

 

[BigRedAF]

Leg extensions are a big no no after a ACL repair.

I used to love that exercise but my Doctor and my rehab chick said NO!

I'm not sure about you but it causes a great deal of pain under my knee cap anyway so I have no desire to try it at any weight for any reason.

My repair was a patella tendon graph. Rehab started on the third day after surgery and was a major pain in the a$$. Your a bit late on the rehab if your just getting started. The more you work it the better your flexibility will be.

Generally the repair is very strong the day of surgery. The next few months the repair gets weaker and then starts to heal to it's strongest point by the end of the year.

The problem here is that by the third month you feel pretty good and do stupid stuff when your knee is not very stable. Be careful and wear a good brace during MX.

 

[JustinC628]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not just getting started in my rehab, I started about a week or so after the surgery back in September with an actual physical therapist. The knee is feeling good and I'm hoping to start riding within the next month or so. The reason I asked about the leg extensions is because I have always really liked using that exercise too as part of my leg routine. I see you are from AZ also, where exactly is Gold Canyon? I just moved to AZ in January from PA and I live in the NW valley near Surprise.

 

[BigRedAF]

You and I are about 80 miles apart. Your close to Speed World and I'm near
ET Motopark. Gold Canyon is at the 201 mile marker on the US60 at the base of the Superstition Mountains.

Be careful with that knee. After a few months the pain goes away and the activity level goes up. Unfortunately your knee will be weaker at that point and starting it's way back to full recovery. Re injuries are common in the 4-6 month range after surgery.

 

[JustinC628]

The last time I saw my doctor was in December and she said that I can start riding again March but I'm gonna wait until some time in April. I haven't rode at all in well over a year so I have to be very careful. I want maybe find an open area out in the desert just to cruise around and get used to my bike again. It sucks ET is so far away from me cause I've seen pics of that place and it look nice. I hear that Firebird Raceway Park is building a MX track too which is out your way.

 

[BigRedAF]

Firebird is news to me. I've been saying they should build a track for years, that would be way cool.

I've been injured worse over the past thirty years play riding than I have ever been hurt racing, be careful playing around in the desert.

Speedworld is a very mellow place to ride out near you. The good thing about riding on a track is supervision, help, track preparation, everyone is going the same direction and you know what's around the next corner.

Arizona Cycle Park is on your side of town too. It's the best place to ride in the valley. I make the 95 mile trip each way a couple times a month.

http://www.arizonacyclepark.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=50

Get a CTI 2 knee brace!

Your doctor can prescribe it and insurance will pay for it. I have two and riding without them is nuts...

 

[JustinC628]

If you go to the gomxracing website you can find info on the Firebird MX track that is being built.

I see your point about riding open areas like in the desert. I might just start riding again at the vintage/vet track at Speedworld. I prefer riding on mellow natural terrain style tracks anyway.

As far as braces go I already have a pair of Asterisk's but I have thought about maybe getting my doc to write a script of a custom made pair of CTI's or DonJoy's.

 

[BigRedAF]

I just called the lady at Firebird and she said "yes it's true." It will be interesting to see how it turns out. Most of the time when some guy goes into flat land and builds a track it sucks! Only time will tell. I plan on being there next weekend if they get it done...

 

[kiwijohn]

Watch that knee dude.... repairs are never as good as the original so do like the man says and get knee braces - one for each leg. People often forget that when you injure one lower limb, your body will also shift it's centre a little to take the strain off an injured joint (ie. limp).

Just because it feels better doesn't mean you're all squared up again. That imbalance will start to wear the other knee / ankle / hip if you don't get yourself sorted properly. Go find someone who knows bio-mechanics or such like!!

And forget leg extensions - when does your leg ever do any sort of action that resembles a supported extension other than in the gym? Do squats or deadlifts - much more beneficial to bike riding too.

Good luck fella.

 

[bk250]

I second BigRed's comment about NOT doing leg extensions. I too had a patellar tendon ACL replacement and the first thing the doctor (a sports injury specialist) and the rehab specialist said was to not do any weighted extensions. You do need to work hard on building the muscles up around the knee to help with stabilization. I am about 9 years post-op now and have started doing so leg extension work in the gym, but still only do about 40 lbs . The legs are strong enough to do much heavier weight, but I have no desire to go through that surgery and rehab again.