This article was published on: 03/8/22 9:53 AM
Recovering from an ACL injury can be both physically and psychologically challenging. If an injury becomes a hurdle in your life and stops you from being a part of anything that you love to do, the first question that will come to your mind is “When can I get back to my sport?”
Whether you are a professional athlete or just a recreational player, you would want to know how long will it take for you to get back to your game and compete in your favourite sport. It actually depends on various factors and there is no straight answer to it. When deciding whether or not to return to sports, patients and healthcare providers should not make a decision solely on the amount of time that has gone by since the injury or surgery.
There are various other factors to be considered while making this decision. This includes, the demands of your sport, how fast you regain improvements in your range of motion, control of your knee, improvements in strength, and pain, your psychological readiness and your confidence in retuning to sports again and the adequate time your body requires to complete the healing process. The recovery can vary from person to person and there isn’t a specific amount of time that one can predict.
According to the current research, the healthcare team should use a combination of tests and take feedback in order to determine when a return to sports is appropriate. This method tailors your Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) recovery to you, your sport, and your progress. Some of the most important factors that contribute in evaluating a successful return to sports after an ACL injury include limited swelling around the knee, knee no longer giving out during activity, equal strength in your thigh muscles when compared to your uninjured side and how ready you feel to return to sports and the level of confidence you have in your knee when performing certain activities.
