Thread: ACL Injury

One new thing they've been having me do this time around are straight leg raises on a stability ball - sit on the ball, foot on the floor, leg straight at a 45 degree angle or so to the ground, contract the quad and do straight leg raises. (You could get a similar effect sitting on the edge of a sofa). I don't know the specifics of why, but it does feel like you're working it harder.

And again if you have a ball, lay on your back on the floor, feet/ankles on the ball, knees bent at a 90 degree angle. Push your heels into the ball (or sofa cushion), contracting hamstrings until your butt lifts up off the floor. Works the hamstrings pretty nicely. If you straighten out your legs and do the same thing it works your glutes instead.

Fack dude. I hope this turns out okay, I was planning on crashing on your floor a couple times this season!

Seriously though, I hope things turn out okay for ya. Positive vibes being sent up north to you. I'll get extra drunk for both of us tonight! That's the maggot way.

Thanks Basom, Vinman, Altagirl. I'll stick with the ibuprofen and ice for a few more days as Vinman said...

Vinz, if it gives you an excuse to drink twice as much, rock on. I'd be doing the same, but tomorrow is the first day of the new job. I might not be done yet, and my floor is always open to maggots.

Update: Still waiting on the insurance, so the only person I've been able to see is a PT who let me pay cash and there will be no records. His diagnosis is that my ACL is done. Did a little test, thumbs on top of leg, below the kneecap, push up from the bottom. The left leg stays put, but my lower right leg moves a few mm upwards. He gave me excercises, did some ultrasound, and some electric stimulation to try and reduce fluid/swelling.

At this point, I'm going to try and ski until the early spring w/a brace and then do the surgery. Any opinions on this would be greatly appreciated. Though I know it shouldn't be, one of my main concerns is that I have a lots of money (for me at least) tied up in season passes at this point. Plus, I have family who already have plane tickets out here, it would suck to not be able to ski with them.

Anyone in the Tahoe area have a left over right knee brace?

You can do it, man. Before I had my surgery, I was feeling pretty strong. You definitely won't be the same, but you should be able to salvage some fun. My younger brother played a whole college soccer season with a blown out knee. He wasn't in top form, but adequate, and better than some healthy players on the bench. You just gotta work it, though. Get one of those balls AG was talking about. When ligaments tear they lose "memory". Those balls help with balance and muscle memory by working subtle, smaller muscles. Good luck, and get the surgery after the season. Don't put it off forever.

Great advice as always, Vinman.
Good luck with the season, Darkside!





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