ACL replacement and erging

[3weight]

Hi everyone! I just received my Model D today and am very excited. I'm a rower and decided to finally bite the bullet and get my own erg.
I tore my ACL in March and had ACL replacement surgery last week. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with using the erg as part of the rehab that is required after this type of surgery? I obviously need to consult with my physical therapist, but I'm thinking the erg can help me in my rehab.
Thanks for your time!
Teresa

[Yukon John]

Congrats on getting your model D, I'm envious!!! I haven't gone through anything with my knees like you have, but if you don't mind I'll throw out an observation or two. I while ago several people mentioned how rowing has gotten the muscles around the knees stronger and have even been able to go back to some running when they thought they'd never run again. I know my knee joint is much stronger now. But saying that, there are a lot of people who have had knee problems while erging. Most of the ones seem to stem from either doing too much too fast or improper technique (or a combination of the two!) So if physio gives you the green light, start slow (both in speed and distance), slowly build (as long as you're pain free), and focus on good technique. Oh ya, and enjoy the best piece of fitness equipment around ! I just re-read your post and saw that your injury was pretty recent. How is the recovery coming and what do the physio people have you doing? Take it easy! John.

[3weight]

Thanks for the encouragement, John
I've been rowing/erging for a few years now and have not had any knee problems so I'm thinking the erg will be helpful. I think you hit the nail on the head~ I need to start slow and build up over time.
I saw the surgeon today and he said everything looks great. I was disappointed, tho, because he said he wanted me to wait 2 more weeks before I start rehab! I'm getting very anxious to get going with the PT~ I want to get better asap!
Thanks again for the info and encouragement!
Cheers!
Teresa

[Joedoc]

Using a rower is an excellent exercise to increase range of motion and strength after an ACL reconstruction, once cleared by your surgeon. There are different phases of recovery after an ACL reconstruction in which different exercises are introduced in a graded manner, so check with your surgeon and therapist to make sure it is ok to start using the erg. At first you will want to go very slowly to regain all of your knee motion. You should not try to increase your pace until given the go ahead by your surgeon. Orthopaedic surgeons all have their own rehab protocols, and what I recommend may not be the same as what your surgeon does. Good luck with your rehab
Joe Alhadeff, MD

[grams]

I had my 'new' (read someone elses) acl installed on 9/7. I blew mine out skiing about 25 years ago, and recently noticed my leg was becoming unstable. I could even see the weakness in my erging force curve!

Last spring I decided to figure out what was causing my problems, and (thanks to the wonders of modern mri's) found out that I had been hiking, biking, climbing, erging etc without an attached tendon. We went to the family reunion in England and then I laid in a supply of new tv sets and books, and trundled off to the orthopedic day surgery last Thursday.

My ortho dr said that it was a good thing that I had it repaired, as I was headed for a fall (literally) as my knee was getting close to failing. It doesn't hurt much at all. I seem to have good fore-aft flexibility, and it already feels more stable than before.

QUESTIONS:
My 1st physio isn't until Tuesday. I'm not supposed to put full body weight on it for a week, then I guess anything goes?? Any advice here?

How long did you other acl folks wait before getting back on the erg? Did you do a temporary leg/knee support for a while, so a not to apply full pressure at first?

Any suggestions?

thanks, grams

[avgibson]

I had ACL surgery about 4 years ago and a second surgury on the same knee two years ago. The doctor suggested I stop running because I had constant knee soreness and inflamation (post surgery). I've now been erging for about 15 months and have never felt stronger. My knee never bothers me and the pain has all but disappeared. I feel like erging has changed my life.

[grams]

I'm 8 weeks post op. I saw my surgeon last week and he called me his 'poster child' for acl reconstruction. Certainly I am one of the oldest ladies he has operated on. My physio said my recovery rate was 1-2 weeks ahead of most folks of any age.

I do recognise my limits however. My goals are not to get back to running even though I would like to play soccer again. Or play competitive tennis.
I do want to do longer hikes and some light backpacking and cycling.
My erging was the key to being in good shape going into surgery and it is also the path to full recovery over the next year. I am starting over with my times and distances. Nothing longer than 3000 meters at a sitting, but I have gotten the split at the end below 2:30. Sounds pitiful, but thats where I was when I started erging 3 years ago and I got a lot better in only 5 months.

One thing I learned over the years-there's always another sport out there to have fun with.

You will do just fine with this surgery and amaze your doctors. Let us know how it goes.

grams

[JStover]

I found it usefuly to combine weight training, cycling and erging in my recovery program.
- weight training (for strength)
- cycling (for strength and cardio)
- erging (for cardio and it seemed to help restore range of motion)

Good luck