Following an ACL reco a month ago, i am itching to get back to an active life. while on bed (on prescription opiates) for 2 weeks & web surfing, i rekindled my interest in SUP and buying mambo loud shirts on ebay (told you i was on the gear).
core strength excercise, cardio workout on water etc etc sounded SO much better than joining the other grunts in the gym sweating and checking themselves out.
anyway, keen to start as a beginner but need some insight into a couple of things:
1) has anyone experience with returning to SUP post ACL reconstruction? constraints, risk issues, benefits etc?
2) how long did the flat water return take? my physio says another 2-3 months until i can kneel sitting on my ankles.
3) as it is my right knee, i was wondering if anyone has conciously changed stance from natural (which i am/was) to goofy to reduce load on rear leg? will that be just too wierd for me? or just stay on the flat water and deal with load once stronger.
4) was gunning for the 11'2" Starboard Blend. yea or nah? i am 90kg with the intent of returning to 80kg once i burn off the blubber over a year or ASAP.
please help me get on the water before i get more colourful presents delivered that have eaten my board budget! apologies for so many questions.
1) Dont know - no experience 2) as above 3) I practice paddling often in reverse stance, it doesnt take too long for it to become 2nd nature 4) yep sounds like a good choice
Feel your pain. 3 months since I smashed my knee. MCL ripped off bone, PCL ruptured and fractures top and bottom. Thats kitesurfing for you.
No op as ACL, meniscus and cartilage ok. Final verdict on Thursday whether they want to do some work.
After going too hard too soon twice I would advise caution and listen to your doctor. I redid mine by falling awkwardly onto a large piece of fiberglass behaving oddly on a wave. Very easy to do.
Sup is great for fit knees but the twisting action is not good for dodgy ones. Stay on the flat for a while.
I did complete rupture of ACL, several tears in meniscus & bone bruising about 4 years ago and doctor told me I was too old to bother doing reconstruction (What a rude man - I was only 39!). That's what kind of doctors we get out in the country!Anyhow..........
Had arthroscope surgery to cut out all the 'daggy' bits of ACL & meniscus and then got into the physio to try to strengthen up all the other ligaments.
Started with a bike & then got into SUP. After 12 months on SUP, I went back for a check up & my physio couldn't believe the strength I had built up in the knee. He reckons my knee is as strong as many with ACL intact. Initially he had wanted me to see another doctor and go for the recon, but after this check, he changed his tune!
I would suggest if you haven't SUPed before then get a big wide board (30 inches +) and stick to the flat until your Dr says it has good strength. Shouldn't need to kneel back on your ankles at all. Stay in 'neutral' stance so that you keep even pressure on both knees. Not worth taking any risks. The more time you spend on the flat the more comfortable you'll be when your knee has the strength to head out into waves.
Like Lobes, just for fun, I also alternate stance when paddling on the flat. (Stems back to my days on the 'tools' when I was paranoid I would end up with one big shoulder so I always alternated left/right on the shovel or the rake).
I feed pure msm to one of our show horses & it does wonders for her. She used to get swelling in the leg joints, particularly if kept in a stable or small yard where she was just standing around all the time. It is miraculous stuff - I didn't know you could give it to humans but I totally believe the Rugby in a month stuff cause it fixed our mare in even less time than that!
thanks for your advice on this. keep it coming as i really need to set myself some realistic future goals. one of the keys to rehab is a positive mindset and without enjoying the milestones, that can be a bit hard to maintain. drawing on the experience of many is a sure way to keep going ahead but with safety.
i had a major procedure with the ACL and lateral meniscus trim/repair and a fracture in the tibia from the incident in July so i really do need to take care. i feel great 4 weeks post op but the surgeon was so good - had done 16000 knee ops and 6000 ACLs which is a few Maseratis i guess.
i had the left knee acl done in 2001 and it was at this stage after about 3 or 4 months. i cannot beleive the difference but diff surgeon and new technology. and this time i will work hard on the exercise regime to bring it together sooner. SUP will be a fun way to do this without really thinking about doing rehab.
woohoo, saw the surgeon today and got the green light to proceed on the board. albeit flatwater and taking it steady. he said the most dangerous part was the transition from beach to water and getting across the sand.
he suggested it would be good for the development of the thigh muscles and developing prioperception due to the nerve damage. in combination with the excercise bike should be a good workout. gotta be a good thing and keeping in that positive mind set!
hope all goes well