Is stationary bike good for ACL rehab?

The answer is YES! The stationary bike is a safe and effective way to promote improved range of motion, muscle strength and aerobic fitness following your surgery. Now of course, the stationary bike is only one of the many great exercises you should do during your ACL rehab program.

Is stationary bike good for ACL recovery?

Exercise Bike

This exercise can be started immediately after suffering an ACL injury. The key is to retain motion of the knee. When sitting on the bike it is important to set the seat height to work on both knee extension (straightening) and flexion (bending).

Is bike riding good for torn ACL?

Cycling can also help promote the health of knee cartilage and support the healing process in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.

What should be avoided during ACL rehab?

Don't work your quadriceps early on because this can stretch the ACL graft. Stationery bike riding or lightweight leg presses are recommended during the first three months after surgery. These exercises strengthen the quadriceps while using the hamstrings to protect the ACL graft. Don't swim or run for five months.

How can I speed up my ACL rehab?

Back on the Bike*! ACL and Meniscus Surgery Recovery

What is the fastest ACL recovery time ever?

An ACL tear recovery time is generally eight to nine months, though some people may recover in six months.

When can I ride bike after ACL surgery?

Stationary bicycle riding: Start stationary bicycle 10 minutes a day between 7-14 days or when your knees flex to more than 90 degrees.

What is the best exercise for torn ACL?

Quad sets, straight-leg raises, and heel slides are common exercises used after an ACL injury. As symptoms decrease and you are able to bear weight, side-lying leg lifts, glute sets, bridges, mini-squats, heel raises, and prone hamstring curls might be added.

Is walking good for ACL rehab?

It's important to start walking within a day or two after ACL surgery, but only a little. Walking for a minute or two can help reduce swelling, but you shouldn't walk any more than that. After two weeks, you can start walking around unassisted without crutches for short periods of time.

What aggravates ACL injury?

Rest & Immobilization: Once an ACL injury is diagnosed it is important that the affected area be rested immediately. Any further movement or stress will only aggravate the condition and prolong recovery.

Is cycling good for knee rehab?

The bicycle provides quadriceps rehabilitation while controlling the stresses to the knee ligaments. With pedaling on the bicycle, forces are applied to the anterior cruciate ligament, the capsular ligaments, and the posterior structures of the knee joint as the tibial plateau is posteriorly tilted.

Is stationary cycling good for knee pain?

According to a 2021 review published in Clinical Rehabilitation, exercising on stationary bikes lessened pain and improved function in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

What range of motion exercises can you do with a torn ACL?

How long after knee surgery can you ride a stationary bike?

You can expect to be back on a stationary bike within two weeks of your knee operation. Cycling on the road may take up to 12 weeks post-operation.

Are squats good for ACL rehab?

So in terms of an ACL rehab protocol what you are looking to do is start with squat patterns that place a low degree of force on the knee joint, then slowly start to add new squats with greater amounts of ankle dorsiflexion over time.

Are squats good for ACL recovery?

It is important to start loading the ligament again with squats, because the ACL is usually reconstructed with pieces of tendon from elsewhere in the body, like the quadriceps or patellar tendon. That is to say, the ligament needs to learn how to be an ACL for the first time.

How many times a day should I do ACL rehab?

If you do not have full movement, you should complete range of movement exercises 4-5 times per day. Full knee movement is vital for your recovery. The exercises to increase your knee movement may cause some discomfort. Repeat 10 times, 2-3 times daily, or as pain allows.

What is the end stage of ACL rehab?

The last stage of rehabilitation is expected to last between 6-12 months post-surgery. Ideally, the individual should have full knee range of motion, is pain-free, has good neuromuscular control, and a foundation of strength and power.

Will my knee ever be the same after ACL surgery?

This means that an ACL reconstruction surgery can get your knee to very close to perfectly healthy, but it will still never be quite as healthy as it was before the actual injury.

What not to do with torn ACL?

Don't: Walk, swim, cycle, bend and extend your knee, etc. until you're cleared to do so. You want to rehab your ACL.

Does stretching help ACL recovery?

ACL Rehab: Gain early full extension:

One of the main aims of early rehabilitation is to gain full extension of the knee as quickly as possible post-operatively. Not gaining full extension now can have drastic implications later on in the rehab process. This is where stretching is really important.

How can I strengthen my ACL without surgery?

Perform stretching program daily. Cardio program is recommended 3-5 times a week for 20-40 minutes Perform strengthening/proprioception exercises 3 times a week. Perform plyometric/jumping/agility exercises 2 times a week. Perform return to sport activities as directed by physician and physical therapist.

What cardio can I do after ACL surgery?

Swimming doesn't put weight on your knee, making it one of the best ways to exercise without putting stress on your knee. Dancing in any form of gentle dancing is a great way to use leg muscles during a light aerobic workout. Avoid twisting, jumping and abrupt movements that misalign your knee.

Can I run on treadmill after ACL surgery?

When implemented correctly, running has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated following ACL reconstructive surgery. Using both clinical and instrumental assessments, research has found that a running protocol including both interval and speed work implemented at 4 months post-op did not increase ligament laxity.

Why is ACL rehab so long?

Why is the ACL recovery period so long? The reason for this is due to the biological changes which the graft will need to undergo in order to re-incorporate into the body. Once a graft is disconnected from the body, even for a short time, the cells within it undergo necrosis (i.e. die).