2nd ACL Injury

[Daytomann]

I talked to my friend this evening about MCL and ACL injuries. Theres not alot you can do to keep it from happening if you take a bad landing your just gonna injure them sooner or later. He said to just make sure you have your board set up correctly and try to make sure youre warming up before you ride a little bit ( I know its hard to always do) then he said to do a few hamstring and calf stretches before you ride..dont bounce. That will help losen you up....he said you do not want to do any stretches that stretch the ligaments directly (as I stated before) this is the WRONG thing to do.

Other than that he said to make sure your legs are strong by doing some cross training as much as possible and weights in the off season..carefull with the weights, dont reinjure yourself..LOL,....try to warm up and do a little stretching before you ride (calfs and Hams) then when youre done take about 10 mins and stretch again...hams, quads, hip flexor, glutes, calfs and lower back...it'll make a difference and help in the long run.

Just talk to your Physical Therapist when you are rehabing, they will give you some valuable advise.

[darrel409]

4 months 20 days post from ACL surgery(used patella graft). Was running 22 off @ 34mph this weekend. I feel good just a little nervous on front side over the wake. My dr. didnt think it was too smart, just wait a couple more months he says. Next season he says i can do what ever i want. I have been doing my therepy 5 days a week and it really helped with getting strength back. I 'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Good Luck.

[jhiestand]

Hey OKWAKEBDR, how's the knee now? I just blew my right ACL the other evening so my season is pretty much done. I had my left one reconstructed about 6 years ago, so I know the drill and I'm not terribly excited about going through it again! At least you still have youth on your side when it comes to rehab and healing. I've got about 14 years on you and I'm sure I won't have it as easy!

I'm not sure I agree with what others have said about knee braces being a good preventative device. In my opinion, it's just the lazy man's excuse to not to put the work in for knee strengthening, which is the best preventative measure against future injury. I rode with a brace for a month or so after my initial reconstruction but it was more a mental aid than anything else.


Hope you're doing well and will be back behind the boat soon!

[BigBald]

I would be interested in a poll asking folks if they have had knee damage while wakeboarding or skiing. I have a friend that is an orthopedic surgeon. He has commented several times that he is concerned about the new binding technology being too "unforgiving". Would be curious if he is correct.

[OKWAKEBDR]

Hey...thanks for asking. The knee is doing pretty well. The surgical technology has gotten much better in the last 6 years, so I would say that it shouldn't be as evasive as it was. It is still not a lot of fun though. I am 10 1/2 weeks out of surgery now and have been doing physical therapy for about 8 1/2 weeks - just started jogging (a little bit) today. This recovery seems to be coming better than my last one.

Just picked up my 2 new $2000 each knee braces last week. Thank goodness for insurance. I would definitely agree with you - there is no substitute for hard work in the gym to strengthen the muscles around the knee, but the braces are great. There has been a lot of knew technology with those as well. That is why I replaced my old knee brace with the new style. There is a lot of "mental aid" to wearing the brace, you are right about that, but my knee felt a lot stronger when I was wearing it last year.

Oklahoma Sports Science and Orthopaedics (OSSO) is the largest orthopaedic specialtists facility in Oklahoma - they do nearly all of the orthopaedic work in and around OKC. They have also recently done a study regarding knee injuries in wakeboarders, and are writing an article in Wakeboard Magazine to be released very soon. From personal experience, I have seen a lot of knee injuries relating to wakeboarding - obviously with 2 surgeries myself, and several of my friends who have blown theirs also. I'm pretty sure my group of wakeboarding friends and me are padding the doctor's pocketbooks at OSSO pretty well. I would, without hesitation, suggest anyone in OK to go see Dr. Hines at OSSO for any knee work. Hopefully, I won't have to see him anymore.

I don't know if it is the bindings, or just the sheer impacts that result from our sport, or a combination of lots of things, but I would like to see some more research done in the area. Maybe bindings and/or boards, etc. could be adjusted appropriatly.

[MARK-S]

Life is dangerous. Play hard, rehab hard. Lucky Lowe can run 41off at 55k. He has no ACL in both knees.
Make sure to listen to the PT. Rehab is the key. I blew mine in Jan of 02, I was sking 22off in june, and was able to compete in nationals in aug. But you WB guys have more to deal with then an OTF fall. When you go down, anything can happen. Leave the WB for the young guys and stick to slalom.

[jhiestand]

Yeah, wakeboarding is definitely an assumed risk sport. I figure it won't be too long before my body completely gives out and I have to take up golf! PDT_033