arly motion and weight bearing. One problem knee injuries have is that ligament and cartilage have little blood supply (vascularization). This means that they take longer to heal. Athletes can expect to return to competition nine to twelve months after surgery. The repair of ACL injuries has a relatively high success rate. Approximately 1-2% of people will have some degree of dissatisfaction with their surgery. The leading causes of dissatisfaction are: arthrofibrosis (scar tissue), deep venous trombosis (blood clots in leg veins), poor knee motion, infection and injury to the patella. Successful knee surgery is only the first step for the athlete to return to competition and perform with the same results and intensity as he/she was used to before the injury. For some athletes ACL injuries are career ending but for most it's only a hurdle which they can overcome through hard work and determination. The post surgery phase is as important as the surgery itself. The goal during this phase is for an athlete to be psychologically prepared for intense and long rehabilitation. Rehabilitation begins immediately following the surgery. During the first week the goal is to establish and maintain full knee extension which can be done through weight shifting on crutches, knee extensions in 90 to 30 degrees arc, as well as some hip exercises. By the sixth week of the rehabilitation program the athlete should maintain full extension and try to increase knee flexion. Also the athlete should begin light functional activities. In the last stage of the rehabilitation program which starts in seven weeks after the surgery, the athlete should work on his balance, incorporate some sport-specific activities and start concentrating on functional progressions and return to high-demand activity. In most ACL injuries athletes are able to return to their sport in about four months after the surgery. How can athletes prevent ACL injuries? Like most injuries they ...
