Had ACl surgery 5 weeks ago using the hamstring graft and was curious how soon most people start cycling after this surgery?
Depends on what you mean by biking. You should already be “spinning” on the bike to get full range of motion and as that progresses you should be able to add resistance. I had a patellar tendon graft which is a longer recovery and did my first triathlon back after 3 and a half months, running was the issue not biking. The key is a good physical therapist, I went 3x week. Good luck.
Depends on your recovery. Make sure you have a sports oriented therapist and do everything they tell you (ice, exercises, rest). You should be on the short crank bike now (or soon) and progress to a regular crank bike as tolerated.
Most patients can do some light cycling at the 10-14 week range. Others may do it sooner. For running, I’d count on not running until almost 5-6 months. Again depends on the patient and progress.
I had mine done last May and I’m still doing rehab and not back to running. I still have issues with scar tissue and quad strength. I had a top notch surgeon and therapist. Both work with pro athletes, but my recovery has been challenging.
I blew my left ACL twice in 8 months playing indoor soccer. Patellar tendon graft each time.
Cycling was as soon as you could handle. Easy spinning to start and get range of motion. Increase as your pain tolerance allows. Cycling poses no risk to an ACL. My Doc did not let me ride outside for about 2 months to be sure I didn’t land wrong.
Running was allowed on flat surfaces at 3-4 months on each surgery. Start off slow and build. No cutting movement were allowed for 5 months.
Swimming was allowed after about a month or two but no hard or fast kicking.
Good luck. It takes time but luckily the three sports you need for tris are the ones you can do the quickest.
I assume you mean outside cycling, I was on the spin bike within 10 days to work on range of motion. I had a sports specific PT (important as the average PT is just trying to get you back to normal life, not running and cycling) and was riding outside within 12 weeks. The biggest issue was actually pivoting the foot out of clipless pedals as this stresses the repair directly, so if you crash and it torques your leg you could damage the new tendon. Find a PT that does athletes (even better triathletes) and follow their instructions. I was told it is ok to push the rehab exercises, but any excessive swelling should be a sign to back off. I am 4 years post surgery and am pushing more power now than before the injury with absolutely no issues in the knee. Do the work, even the lame stretching and strength exercises like a fiend and you will be better off. I was swimming right away but with a pull buoy, freestyle kick is a big no-no. Don’t rush back into the bike or running, screwing your knee up again is not worth the 2-3 weeks you might think you save in your comeback. Good luck!!
After my ACL with allograft I was riding a bike in about 3 or 4 days. I had to wiggle side to side on the seat at first but within a few minutes I could pedal normal. It was also on the trainer not on the road. I used a lot of motrin get rid of the swelling.
I had a hamstring graft as well and was on my bike within a week riding around a tennis court.I did lot’s and lot’s of rehab work and was on the treadmill after one month.First triathlon after three months and back doing ironman after nine months.No problems since.
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SLCtri gives you a pretty fair assessment of the post op picture. I let my ACL’s get on the ex bike as soon as pain permits and suggest if they have clip ins that they leave the shoes clipped in and go from there. Out door biking comes when, in a situation they didn’t predict, they can avoid reinjury to themselves or an injury to another. This is very person specific and comes around 3 months. I let them run, again patient specific, around 4.5 - 5.5 months trying to minimize downhill and we have the “when can I race discussion” when they’ve recovered quad strength and reduced atrophy. I guess I’m just not in any hurry to get them back stressing the joint as I want this operation to last forever. Not surprisingly, so do they.
I blew my ACL in '95 (skiing) and had a patella graf. I remember the joy (and pain) the first time I was able to turn a full pedal stroke on the stationary bike. IIRC, it was about 2-3 weeks post surgery and about 2-3 trips into the PT session.
The good part was the PT and rehab turned my Gold’s Gym, no cardio 20-something body into a runner and now a competitive cyclist.
Sometimes, even in the worst of circumstances, some people find a silver lining. Good deal, hope you are very fast. well, a lot faster than me anyway.
My recovery was nearly identical to anthandle with the Petella. I decided I took the better safe than sorry approach but still was a little aggressive. I was riding at about 2 months outside and running around 3-4 and ran well around 6 months. I did form tendinitis in my patella though so that set me WAAY back on the running. Good luck and as others have said I have zero problems with it 2+ years later and it feels as strong or stronger than my good knee!