Just wanted to follow up and see how folks on this thread are doing. My daughter will be hitting her 9-month milestone this month. With Ortho visit and "hopefully" final PT visit the following week. It's been a journey. I would like to take credit but my wife has been the motivator and guide the whole way for my daughter. I have just been the sounding board and "frustration expression recipient" along the way. I can't stress enough for the parents venturing to this thread how important communication of expectations and progress is with the Physical Therapist. If you are just starting this journey I would say try to find a PT that works best for you. One that knows soccer and women soccer is a definite win. My daughter again hopefully will be RTS in July but even then we are slowly wading in to playing time and events to not rush things. Wishing everyone on this thread good luck.
Torn ACL
- Thread starter Surf Zombie
- Start date
VegasParent
SILVER ELITE
My kid hit her 9 month post op yesterday. She was fully cleared by her PT 2 weeks ago to RTS and had a 5 minute cameo over Memorial Day weekend. She will slowly work her way back into games starting at the GA playoffs at the end of this month. No more than 10 minutes a half. Seeing Macario and Press go down with ACL tears isn't helping my stress level but my kid can't wait to play some meaningful minutes.
13 months post op. Cleared at 9 months with 10 matches under the belt gradual mins up to 75-80 mins. Feeling strong, no issues, physically or mentally. In retrospect, it feels like the operation and rehab were the easy parts. Getting match fit the hard part. Feel like she is 80% of her playing level pre injury. Patella graft and menincus work.
youthsportsuggghhhhgghh
BRONZE
A question I would have for this comment is -- how were the minutes tracked/managed as she returned to game action. What type of college did she attend -- big time sports school.....D3 high academic/low athletics school
youthsportsuggghhhhgghh
BRONZE
I am assuming the 3.5-4 month timeframes are post surgery and not injury? Injured in January and surgery in March -- The hope is to get some soccer action at the end of November/begin December and then basketball in January. She is a rising junior and had gotten some notice for both sports just before the injury. She is doing some physical therapy through our insurance provider which is the old school bands and body weight exercises. We were also referred to a sports medicine specialist and she really loves that fact the exercises are geared toward her specific sports. She is also seeing other athletes (all ages) at different stages of recovery which is really good for her mentally.
We have been really lucky in that she has a great support group of teammates and classmates that haven't let her get down if somehting wasn't the way she thought it would be. Her coaches have also kept her involved mentally as she attends practices for both sports once a week.
Hope everyone on this thread does well and doesn't experience setbacks or issues!
We have been really lucky in that she has a great support group of teammates and classmates that haven't let her get down if somehting wasn't the way she thought it would be. Her coaches have also kept her involved mentally as she attends practices for both sports once a week.
Hope everyone on this thread does well and doesn't experience setbacks or issues!
oh canada
GOLD
Unfortunately, there are plenty of acl recovery role models to look to/recover with at the moment - Macario, Press, Kayla Sharples, Marta, Williams, Davidson, Watt, Nadim, etc.
NWSL owners should put their money together to fund a serious acl prevention research project at one of the UC schools. It's an epidemic with long term health implications. I would love to see pro rata stats on female pro soccer acl tears v. NFL acl tears.
NWSL owners should put their money together to fund a serious acl prevention research project at one of the UC schools. It's an epidemic with long term health implications. I would love to see pro rata stats on female pro soccer acl tears v. NFL acl tears.
Simisoccerfan
PREMIER
D1. No idea how minutes were tracked since she goes to JMU in Virginia. First game she got minutes was an away game at Duke with 21 minutes. I held my breath for all 21 of the minutes.
Surf Zombie
GOLD
Mine is 7 months post surgery and just got cleared to start cutting. Her Sophomore HS season runs early September to early November and then her ECNL season starts early December, so the timing is good.
She will use the summer to keep rehabbing and doing strength training and will be at 9 1/2 months post surgery right around her first HS game of the season. I’m planning to speak with the HS coach and limit her play time to maybe 15 minutes per half to start the season and build from there.
Sadly three of her club teammates tore their ACL’s this year. One during training and two during games. The third just had surgery this week.
She will use the summer to keep rehabbing and doing strength training and will be at 9 1/2 months post surgery right around her first HS game of the season. I’m planning to speak with the HS coach and limit her play time to maybe 15 minutes per half to start the season and build from there.
Sadly three of her club teammates tore their ACL’s this year. One during training and two during games. The third just had surgery this week.
Surf Zombie
GOLD
What did you start her out at in terms of minutes per half of play time and what was the progression to get back to playing 70-80 minutes?
Surf Zombie
GOLD
Yes, the timeframe is post surgery. Mine tore her ACL first week of October but didn’t have surgery until mid November. Day of surgery is “Day 1” so to speak.
I would say 10 min a half - sometimes 20 mins a half/sit the second the first few matches. Middle matches 20 mins a half or full half then sit. Last couple of matches full half to 20-30 min. April to June time frame. Still maintain gym/pt regimen.
Surf Zombie
GOLD
Thanks! This is very helpful.
dk_b
GOLD
Our recs were pretty structured until the 1 yr anniversary of the surgery: weekly increases starting at 22 mins, then 45, then 65, then 90, no back-to-back games (that is, no Sat/Sun) (before they were cleared for games, they were cleared for full contact at reduced time in practice, then that plus participation in scrimmages, then full everything at practice/scrimmages, then games). At 1 yr, restrictions were off (I had asked Dr about summer camps for my 2d twin b/c our schedule was so sparse, she would get to 65 and not 90 before the season ended and he said after a year, she’s good). He continued to stress - and the PTs as well - that fatigue should ALWAYS be monitored b/c when fatigue sets in, form breaks down and when form breaks down, injury risk rises. So even if they have played 90 in a prior weekend, they need to listen to their bodies so they don’t overdo it on a day when they are not 100% or a team is particularly physical (thus more exhausting) or its really hot, etc.
For those late to this thread (or just simply missing one of my original posts): my twins (now 16) tore their ACLs 8 weeks apart in Spring ‘21. Same surgeon for both but he recommended patellar for one and quad for the other.
VegasParent
SILVER ELITE
Is your kid playing with a brace? My kids Ortho recommends she plays with a brace until 2 years post op. Another kid in her club said her Ortho recommends no brace at all. The brace is clearly uncomfortable to play in for my kid so I'm wondering if I should look at other options.
youthsportsuggghhhhgghh
BRONZE
good question -- Our Ortho and PT have both said she shouldn't/wouldn't need a brace when she is cleared to play. I would think that is what you would want when being cleared to play -- no need for a brace.
Surf Zombie
GOLD
My DD had surgery at Children’s Hospital in Boston. Even within the orthopedic department at that hospital there is a split amongst the surgeons on the brace/no brace recommendations. My DD’s surgeon says wear the brace for the first year returning to play. Her teammate, who had surgery with a different Dr. at the same hospital said the brace isn’t needed once she is cleared to return to play.
To me, it’s like watching a Supreme Court split decision. All brilliant jurists, but there are differences of opinion.
VegasParent
SILVER ELITE
This is what I have been noticing. Multiple kids in my DD's club have had ACL tears and after talking to the parents (we have all gone to different Dr's) we have all been given different return to play guidelines. The only thing that has been consistent is waiting until the 9 month mark. While I'm all for being cautious, 2 years post op with the brace seems quite long. I'll see what he says at her 1 year post op appointment and see if we need to make adjustments
No brace. Insurance PT, Ortho and separate sports PT all agreed no brace. PT says no need for a reminder lol. Some truth to it I suppose.
soccerchaffeur
SILVER
My daughter is now 7 months post op and returned to training last week(no contact). Doc said the brace is unnecessary.
Our Ortho saw benefits for some athletes but does not push it. My daughter doesn't want it, She feels it is going to restrict her movement, speed agility etc and doesn't need the reminder. A teammate is three years post op still wears one each athlete is different and should know what works for them.