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 Author | Topic: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing? (Read 111 times) |
LoneGroover
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Karma: 4 |  | Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Thread Started on Nov 7, 2009, 1:51pm » | |
Hi, Due to a complete refusal to accept how old I am I've managed to injure my knee doing big jumps wakeboarding. I've ruptured my ACL (or as the consultant put it "your knee's buggered"). Right now it's not clear whether it will need surgery to reconstruct the ACL, and this will largely come down to how active I want to be and what sports I intend to do.
One thing I know I want to keep up is MTBing. Has anyone had any experience of mountain biking with a torn/ruptured ACL, with or without surgery? I'm hoping that as there's little or no twisting of the knee involved it should be OK, at least for XC, but I'm less confident about some of the more technical/freeride stuff which is what I like best. Any thoughts?
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muddyfox
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Karma: 42 |  | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #1 on Nov 7, 2009, 2:05pm » | |
ouch, sorry to hear that Rich. Luckily no experience of anything like that myself.
Is it painful all the time or only when you put pressure on it etc?
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roadietony
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Karma: 3 | | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #2 on Nov 7, 2009, 4:09pm » | |
well after 13years with a ruptured ACL and damaged cartilage I've never had any problems with mountain biking and road racing. I gave up running, squash, sking, football etc. 13years ago it was a serious op, now I believe it's key hole surgery? At the time I did it the surgeon said if I had the op then I've had arthritis in 10years, so I'm glad I didn't. It depends what you want to do really.
Cycling is excellent recovery excerise and great leg strengthening to avoid my problems. Hence my going out doing loads of cycling but it is for medical purposes only - as I frequently remind the Mrs.
If I have problems now (leg locking etc..) I will have to have it done but I'll do my best to avoid an op.
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LoneGroover
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Karma: 4 | | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #3 on Nov 7, 2009, 5:01pm » | |
Hi Rich, it's still recovering (swollen, etc), but only hurts if I twist it. The physio recommended road cycling as good recovery exercise, but was worried about offroad. I've done a gentle local offroad loop with no problem & will be out tomorrow.
Hi Tony, thanks for the encouraging info  The op is indeed keyhole now (just for a large key  ). Apparently it's no longer clear if having the op or not having it increases the chance of arthritis. I think the highest risk is not having the op but then continuing to do twisting sports that will continue to damage the cartilege. However it's still a serious op in that it needs many months of rehab
I'm confident about XC-style riding, the things I'm not sure about would be jumps due to the impact And also whether on falls you might twist your leg enough to make it give way. I don't do any big jumps, the tabletops at Swinley are about as big as I go, but I do like to get some air when I can. Have you had any problems like those?
If you don't mind me asking, how old were you when you injured your ACL? And did you use a brace at all?
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Uncle Riotous
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Karma: 1 | | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #4 on Nov 7, 2009, 5:21pm » | |
I'm never sure how much is marketing BS and how much is actually noticeable but I know my Specialized SPD shoes have this big thing in their blurb about how they stop your knees from wobbling about while you're riding because of their shape. Might be worth checking out if it helps knee stability.
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roadietony
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« Reply #5 on Nov 7, 2009, 9:56pm » | |
Hi Lonegroover
I was 29 when I did my knee and I'm not much of an air merchant but I've done plenty of trail centres and serious off roading over the years. I've never worn a brace. Although when I did the ACL I had to have an MRI before they figured it since I did so much cycling the muscles were holding everything together so well that the standard ACL test (basically wobbling the knee) that they couldn't figure it. It does seem like a much better op now but at the time I think I made the right decision not too have the op. It did take about a year to get the strength back in the leg but they have never been quite equal since.
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robmanns2007
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Karma: 9 | | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #6 on Nov 7, 2009, 11:25pm » | |
Did mine when i was 21
Gave up footy and rugby
cycling no problem unless you need to twist out of your spds quickly. I always have my tension screw on the left pedal (thats my injured side) loosened off just in case
Aches nowand again in cold weather especially and get the occasional bit of swelling (minor) which is treatable with ice pack
Get 2 or 3 seperate medical opinions then make your decision. Dont listen to us !!
Hope you're ok
Rob
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Uncle Riotous
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Karma: 1 | | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #7 on Nov 8, 2009, 7:54am » | |
Nov 7, 2009, 11:25pm, robmanns2007 wrote:| Get 2 or 3 seperate medical opinions then make your decision. Dont listen to us !! |
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Probably the best advice on the thread 
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roadietony
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Karma: 3 | | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #8 on Nov 8, 2009, 9:13pm » | |
Spot on. It took 3 visits to GPs, 2 sports physios before I paid for a consultant and an MRI to find out what had happened to me.
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LoneGroover
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Karma: 4 | | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #9 on Nov 8, 2009, 9:48pm » | |
Thanks for all the advice. I've seen the consultant and am waiting for the MRI. If it shows a damaged meniscus as well as the ACL then I'll probably have to have the op anyway, but will get a second opinion before going ahead (& I'm also on my second physio already). Interestingly it was the consultant who told to me talk to other folks who have the same problem
Anyway, it looks like I'm in good company. And it's really good news that there should be no problem with MTBing without the op. I went out for a trial ride today & was riding the standard Surrey Hills trails (Barry, Yoghurt Pots, Windy Willows, etc) with no problem, even after getting a bit of air. So I'm much more confident now
I do have one more question though. Anyone had occurences where their damaged-ACL knee's given way due to MTBing? Maybe due to twisting on a fall or something like that?
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nickm
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Karma: 2 | | Re: Injured knee (ruptured ACL) & MTBing?
« Reply #10 on Nov 14, 2009, 9:15am » | |
My ACL was ruptured in 2003 and I had an ACL reconstruction. If it's ruptured I think it means the ACL is completely gone and the only solution is to rely on stronger muscles supporting the knee. If the ACL is torn then it's just weaker and perhaps can be repaired. But it could eventually go completely. Either way, a bad twist can result in further cartilage damage.
My decision to go ahead was based on the reliance for the knees in aspects of mountain biking other than riding. Dabbing feet down, recovering from crashes, carrying bikes, hiking up steep slopes etc. I didn't want to be out riding and my knee give way. And if it's not done it will always be in the back of your mind.
My ACT op was done in May 03 by Sept I was riding off road and in Spring the next year back to normal.
I also ride with a mate who has had his done. Once you ask around it's amazing how many people have had their ACLs done.
I've had no regrets having mine done, but you have to be committed to physio every day for 6 months.
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