According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, 1 in 3500 people injure their ACL every year. This makes it the most commonly injured ligament that supports the knee.
For some people, an ACL injury will require surgical intervention. What are the alternative ACL treatments that might prevent the need for surgery? Who qualifies and what is the ACL injury recovery time without surgery?
As a top sports medicine provider in Middle Tennessee, Elite Orthopedics can help. Read on to learn about the ACL injury healing process when surgery isn’t on the table.
When Do ACL Injuries Require Surgery?
This guide isn’t for everyone. While minor ACL injuries can heal with non-surgical interventions, an ACL tear won’t.
For some people, that isn’t really a problem. If you have a strong, stable knee and don’t engage in a lot of high-intensity exercise, you may be able to treat a torn ACL with physical therapy.
However, pro athletes like these Olympians covered by USA Today need more than just stretches and strengthening exercises. Serious ACL injuries for people who are constantly exercising or on the go tend to require surgery.
When Should You Avoid ACL Surgery?
The good news is that plenty of people don’t need to visit an ACL surgeon to see positive results. Pain in that area doesn’t inherently mean that you have a torn ACL. It could be that you’ve overstretched the ligament, causing microtears that will heal with the right intervention.
As we mentioned earlier, some patients even choose to take a different approach to managing an ACL tear, despite the fact that it won’t fully heal. This may be an option if you only engage in moderate physical activity and have an otherwise healthy knee.
Merck Manuals also provides a useful overview of the conditions that can make surgery inadvisable. Common factors include age alongside pre-existing conditions like heart disease or diabetes. If you’re concerned about any of these factors, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about the best options for your health.
What Does Non-Surgical ACL Recovery Involve?
If you don’t need surgery to repair your ACL injury or decide surgery isn’t the right option for you, what will your ACL injury healing process look like? Here are some of the treatments and ACL rehabilitation tips you should pursue.
Assessing the Injury
Before your ACL specialist can determine what approach to take, they’ll need to assess the injury. This involves in-office imaging such as X-rays or MRIs. The goal is to see if the ACL is torn all the way through or simply overstretched.
You may need follow-up imaging as your recovery progresses. That way, your ACL specialist can make sure you’re seeing real improvements and adjust treatment as needed.
Taking the RICE Approach
As soon as you think you’ve injured your ACL, whether in a workplace accident or while exercising, we advise using the RICE method. RICE stands for:
- Rest (limit use of your injured knee)
- Ice (apply ice for 10-20 minutes a time several times a day)
- Compress (use an elastic wrap to add gentle compression to the knee)
- Elevate (keep the injured knee above the heart as often as possible, e.g. placing a pillow beneath your knee while sleeping)
The purpose of the RICE approach is to reduce swelling. You typically can’t move forward with any treatment, including physical therapy, until you get swelling under control.
Committing to Physical Therapy
One of the most important elements of non-surgical ACL treatment is physical therapy. Physical therapy will strengthen the muscles and ligaments that support your injured knee and help you recover stability and range of motion.
In addition to your in-office assisted physical therapy, you need to commit to your at-home routine. Follow your physical therapist’s instructions exactly if you don’t want to draw out your recovery timeline.
Avoiding Additional Injuries
While all of this is taking place, you also need to do your best to avoid additional injuries to the affected knee. This means pausing any physical activity besides what your ACL specialist approves. For example, you may be able to swim during recovery, but you should not run or ride a bike.
You may need to wear a brace for several hours a day. This can increase stability and prevent that type of twisting that can worsen an ACL injury.
What Is the ACL Injury Recovery Time Without Surgery?
Non-surgical recovery doesn’t necessarily move slower or faster than surgical recovery. Here are the top factors that will impact your ACL injury recovery time without surgery, which could last anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
The Extent of the Injury
A minor ACL injury can heal within a few short weeks with minimal intervention. You may see results simply by following the RICE method and limiting physical activity. However, something like a partial tear could take six months or longer with rigorous physical therapy and pain management.
The Approach to Healing
If you’re not going to pursue ACL surgery, expect to play a huge role in your recovery. As we mentioned already, committing to physical therapy at home (and not just in the office) is a must if you want to recover as fast as possible. Avoiding rigorous activity is also a requirement that can help prevent a worsening injury.
Your Overall Lifestyle
Contrary to what you may think, your ACL injury isn’t going to heal faster if you’re more physically fit. In fact, you may need to wait even longer to resume normal activities if your normal activities involve high-intensity or high-impact exercise. That said, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is always a benefit no matter what you’re healing from.
Call Elite Orthopedics for Middle Tennessee ACL Care
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of ACL injury recovery time without surgery. The best way to find out what your timeline will look like is to consult a sports medicine practitioner.
Elite Orthopedics provides highly specialized care, from onsite diagnoses to ongoing treatment. We’re so thorough, even professional athletes and celebrities seek care from our doctors. Book an appointment today if you need Middle Tennessee ACL care.
Author: writers-amwn
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