I think mine is gone and I experience a lot of aches and soreness around the knee when running a few month’s back so I stopped running. However this was when I wasn’t doing much cycling and since I’ve started more biking the knee seems to he holding up better on the recent test runs I have done. I sometimes feel it running and biking on hills but otherwise it seems to be OK. I know from experience long ago that a lot of biking can stabilise a knee pretty good, so I’m hoping that I can get away with not getting it fixed in the immediate future. I’d be interested to know if anyone managed to be competitive in triathlon with a weak / torn ACL.
Do you have a previous partial tear? What makes you think its the ACL?
I don’t have a PCL from hockey and I need to bike to be okay for running 50+ miles a week. But thats quite a different situation than ACL
Many years ago I went through ACL tear on my right knee. Initially misdiagnosied I then tore it loads more times playing soccer. Was told to start biking which I did and was able to return to soccer and play a whole season with no problem at all. Then stopped cycling, and the next season, 5 mins into the first game… BANG, it goes again. Had the knee reconstructed and its been fine since, surviving 2 major knocks during games.
Now the problem is in the other knee and the pain seems to the in the same areas as I experienced before and it tweaks badly if I twist or turn the knee, or if I put loads of torque onto it (Hills). Similar experience with the knee feeling more or less stable as related to the volume of cycling I’m doing. The only thing I’m having trouble pinpointing is when I might have torn it. My best guess is the going up l’Izoard during Embrunman last year (heavy and probably a bit out of shape and 4 weeks after Roth).
So at the moment I’m pretty sure that torn ACL is what I am dealing with (perhaps with some other issues). But if it’s just ACL, I’m thinking I should still be able to SBR no problem.
eh a guy I went to college with had an NFL tryout. Went to camp and after the physicals he was dismissed for not having an ACL. Guy had no idea he was sans ligament and had a good shot of making the team
It may be your ACL but there are a ton of things that could be hurt in your knee that will give you the same pain. I would just go get it checked out. You’ll have no idea until then.
I don’t have a PCL. Lost it in a car accident bout 5 years ago. I started training for IMC a couple months ago. No problems so far. Biking and running seem to make the other muscles stronger which give my knee more support. ACL might be an entirely different story though.
I started in triathlon with a torn ACL and had zero problems. I did eventually get it fixed but not because it was bothering me in triathlon.
I say you will be fine. Seeing as I am a Finance guy though my opinion might not be the best!
If you’re planning to be sedentary for the rest of your life, don’t bother repairing your ACL.
But if you plan to be active, even if you THINK you aren’t doing anything that requires lateral stability, you should have the ACL repaired.
Not repairing it and continuing to be active (running, other impact activities) will be a recipe for accelerating the development of osteoarthritis in the joint as you age.
I would say go get a new ACL so you don’t tear something else, like in my case the meniscus.
I injured my knee the first time in April (jumping and landing wrong), and I waited until July to have the surgery. In the meantime I re-injured it a good three or four times (playing ultimate frisbee and tennis), undoubtedly doing more and more damage, until the final bill was one torn ACL and irreversible damage to the meniscus (they had to cut some of it off). I’m doing well in rehab now, but it’s too early to tell whether I can run long again or play tennis. I’m pretty sure that if I had had the surgery in April, my recovery would have been faster and my prospects better.
The problem with these ACL tears is you (or at least I) recover pretty well. And you can go back to your regular activities, especially if your leg muscles help out with stabilizing the knee… But you’re not really fine, because any stupid activity can wreck your knee again. If you’re a couch potato, I can see not needing an ACL. But it’s not worth it for an athlete in my opinion. So if you are going to need surgery sooner or later, choose sooner!
had mine removed 23 yrs ago. lots of aches and pains have come and gone throughout the years but can still participate. lots of leg extensions will help but your running will be limited to some degree. just enjoy every moment you can.
Tore my left ACL skiing, complete teat and a. It of miniscal damage. While waiting for repair I worked out, did weights to strengthen the leg, wore a brace for awhile but stopped. Cycling was great, had to heal a bit before I could swim or run. Ncould not do anything that required a pivot. Went down while vacationing in Mexico because I slipped getting outta the hot tub - immense pain as I continued to curse and Lund the floor with my fist. Proof that it was a full tear.
Repaired a year and a bit ago. ZERO problems now. Been cycling, swimming and running. Even running on grass - something I usually don’t do because of ankle problems. Operated knee and musculature is still not as strong as my old leg / knee but that’s my fault for not working it enough. I plan to do more training (I know, you’ve all heard that before) and get it built up better.
While I had to wait almost 10 months to get it done which meant no skiing for a year, I would do it again. But then being in Canada, the was zero cost to me YMMV.
In the meantime I re-injured it a good three or four times (playing ultimate frisbee and tennis),
I tore mine playing ultimate.
After the surgery, when I was walking around on crutches, most people would see me and say, ‘what happened?’ Ultimate players would see me and say, ‘ACL?’
I found out I had no ACL for about 20-25 years during a meniscus repair, I ended up stopping running because of arthritis issues causing close to bone on bone at my age 54 (even though it never hurts). But for the 20-25 years into my late 40’s i won my AG and even several O/A’s in running races, duathlons and Tri’s.
So without even knowing my ACL was toast I had a nice go at it and have no regrets even though now I only cycle at 57.
In the meantime I re-injured it a good three or four times (playing ultimate frisbee and tennis),
I tore mine playing ultimate.
After the surgery, when I was walking around on crutches, most people would see me and say, ‘what happened?’ Ultimate players would see me and say, ‘ACL?’
Was that followed by, “Sweet, dude! Medicinal marijuana!”
Ulti, yeah… I played my first game since forever one week after my initial knee injury. My first cut was all it took to pop my knee again. Should have seen it as a BIG sign but instead kept playing, although I’m sure some folks were wondering why this guy kept running straight or in large circles.