Acl Injury

Acl injuryAfter the surgery has been successfully done, the athlete will go on to rehabilitation.

Therapy should begin the day of surgery, if the patient desires full range of motion to return

(Johnson, P.139) the athlete should only be doing closed-kinetic chain-type exercises. The

patient should elevate and use ice on the knee for the first few days. The athlete will be several

given strengthening exercise to help the knee. By weeks 6-9 the athlete will be swimming, biking

and other full range of motion exercises. By weeks 12+ the hope is the athlete will have full

range of motion and will continue to work on maintaining this. Theses exercises are built up to

over the weeks. The athletes' should be able to participate in light sports activities beyond 14

weeks. It is advised that an athlete, who has had this type of surgery, should wear a protective,

supportive brace for a year post (Johnson, C2004).

This athlete received an ACL injury while playing high school basketball. After the coach

got a history of the injury, he applied ice to her injury. The parents then took; the patient went to

the Emergency room for treatment. She had an X-ray and MRI done as part of diagnosing her

injury. She was then sent to an orthopedic surgeon for future treatment of her injury. The

orthopedic surgeon evaluated and treated the athlete. He performed tests to help him properly

diagnose the injury. The athlete was given all of her options regarding treatment of her injury.

She decided to have surgery on her knee. She decided on surgery, because she wanted be able to

play at her normal playing level in basketball. The athlete was sent for physical therapy prior to

surgery to help her re-gain full range of motion. Once this was restored, she went in for surgery.

The athlete was then sent back to physical therapy where she did exercises weekly to help her

regain her full range of motion in her knee. She will continue to wear a brace while playing

basketball