Athletico Health Resources

You had the unimaginable happen; you tore your ACL. You probably felt it pop or knew exactly what happened when it happened. Your mind immediately started going 1000 miles per minute, thinking about the worst. “My season is over!” “Will I ever be able to play again?” “What happens next?” All these questions and more are likely swirling through your head, sending anxious thoughts through the roof. ACL tears are quite common in the sports injury world; anywhere from 100,000-200,000 people tear their ACL in a given year. While you may be worried now, this blog will outline steps to help inform your decisions moving forward and determine what will be best for your situation.

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Are you planning on having a knee replacement? Or maybe you’ve just recently had one? Knee replacements are one of the most common types of replacement surgeries. It is estimated that over 850,000 knee replacements are performed each year. As a physical therapist, one thing that I have seen with a majority of my patients navigating post-knee replacement is that they weren’t exactly sure what the recovery process would be like for them post-surgery. In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the recovery process from start to finish and how to set yourself up for success.

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Knee pain is one of the most common diagnoses we treat at Athletico and is among the top three cases I see as an orthopedic physical therapist. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, around 5% of doctor visits are for knee pain, and physical therapy is one of the primary treatment methods.

While knee pain, in general, is common, there are many different sources or causes of knee pain. In this article, we will explore how the location of your knee pain correlates with a possible injury and what physical therapy may entail for that injury.

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Runners are some of the most motivated and driven athletes we encounter in the physical therapy world. Most of the time, this is great, but sometimes, they push through aches and pains until they turn into injuries. A common complaint we hear in runners is knee pain. Although pushing through some pain is okay, it should never limit your performance. Here are a few proactive ways to avoid knee pain and go that extra mile.

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Have you ever wondered about the connection between knee pain, back pain, and urinary leakage? The common denominator is your hips! The hip serves as a ball and socket joint, linking the pelvis with the femur’s head (thigh bone). Its primary role is to provide dynamic stability during weight-bearing activities like walking and jogging. Approximately twenty-five muscles attach to the hip. They can be divided up by their primary action: flexors, extensors, abductors, adductors, external rotators and internal rotators.

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ACL injuries are often talked about in contact sports, but ballet dancers are also at risk of a tear. Jumping is the most common mechanism of injury for a ballet dancer to tear their ACL. Max Dawe, of the Joffrey Ballet, learned this firsthand last summer. I had the pleasure of being Max’s Physical Therapist in the later stages of his rehab while Alyssa Hartley, PT, DPT, OCS worked with him during the first eight months. Recovering from an ACL reconstruction is a long and intense process focused on regaining strength, range of motion, neuromuscular control, and progression of agility and plyometrics tailored to specific sport demands. The general recommended timeline to return to sport is at least nine months due to the high risk of re-injury returning at the previously thought six months. I interviewed Max asking about his recovery process, and we are happy to share his experiences.

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Do your joints make noises when you move? Many people hear noises such as pops, creaks, or grinding in their joints, often in the knees, with activities such as going up stairs or squatting down. But it’s important to know that these noises can be normal, especially if they are not associated with any kind of pain! When joints make noise, it is commonly known as crepitus. Let’s take a closer look at what crepitus is and what you need to know in order to continue safe exercise.

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Having an ACL reconstruction can throw a major wrench into your life. The surgery is complicated, and the rehab program can feel daunting. With a projected return to sport timeline hovering around 9 months to a year depending on your injury, it can feel like you are destined for a year of struggle.

This is a common concern before surgery, and a common fear in the first few weeks after surgery. Your knee is swollen, walking is a chore, and sometimes you even need to wear a big bulky brace. The good news is, with proper rehabilitation, you should be back to the gym in a much shorter timeframe.

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