ACL/MCL tear and STS--opinions needed please!

L

LindaH

New Member
Hi everyone!

I am looking for opinions and welcome all comments. Hopefully this is in the right forum (this is my first post!)

I have been working out for years but suffered a very long bout with sciatica that took me out of consistent training for about the last year and a half. I finally was feeling better, working out to Cathe and running for the last several months. I purchased STS and got all the equipment necessary so I could get started when I returned from skiing this past week.

Well I am back from my ski trip after having been taken down the mountain by ski patrol with both my ACL and MCL completely torn :( I am on crutches, can't put any weight on it, and have to have surgery so am obviously out of working legs for quite awhile (other than PT).

My question--What do you all think of me doing just the STS upper body DVDs (I was thinking about doing the 2 per week that are in the STS rotation and maybe a third full upper body). Or should I wait and do it as it is supposed to be done when I am able (which could be 6+ months). Anyone else doing just upper? Any other ideas?

Thanks for any advice--I do appreciate it.

~Linda
 
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Linda:

even after the surgery, you may be on crutches for a couple of weeks and unable/unwise to bear weight on both legs standing. In that situation, how can you do any standing lifting?

If you can maintain good stability while supine on the ball/step or sitting, you could certainly do some upper body work. However, since it will be more difficult for you to move around and it will take you longer to get into correct lifting position and get your weights set out for each exercise, you would be better off to plan an upper body lifting program that helps keep you in fitness, but does not aim for any goal higher than to keep moving and keep the blues at bay. What I mean is, using your knowledge gained from doing Cathe weight training, select exercises for chest, back, shoulders, biceps and triceps and some basic core work that does not involve putting weight on the legs (planks are out) and put together your own program for a few weeks until you have regained enough movement to get through a Cathe DVD.

You shouldn't have to give up basic lifting, but you should curtail anything ambitious until you have stability and movement back. Remember, that even when doing upper body work, we engage core and lower body muscles to aid in stabilization, so you should take care with your injury. Once you have begun PT for the lower body, you'll have more stability and movement and could investigate at that point engaging in STS upper or beginning the basic lifting program outlined above. Take it slow and take it easy.

You are not missing out. Plenty of us bought the STS system and are still not yet at a place where we can begin the program, so you are in good company! For now and the forseeable future, focus on observing doctor's orders, good rest and good nutrition to promote healing.

Good luck,

Clare
 
Take your time, STS will be there when you are ready!

I had a hamstring injury a while back which resulted in a knee issue that landed me in physical therapy. While my knee was at its worst (about a month before I was even allowed to go to PT), per my doctor, I could only do upper body work on the machines at the gym. That way I was sitting and not involving my knee at all, giving it time to heal.

About a month of doing absolutely nothing but light stretching with my legs, and the upper body at the gym, I was sent to PT. I was still told at that point to only do PT and the upper body machines at the gym. I really wanted to jump into STS, even if it meant only the upper body, but I waited. After what felt like an eternity, about 1 1/2 months, I was given the go ahead to do upper body work that involved standing, like STS. At that point I did the upper body as laid out in the program and added my PT moves 3 times a week (per doctor's orders on the PT) with double abs on the leg day. I have to say, I am really glad I waited. I still have twinges that I am dealing with and can only imagine how much more damage I would have done if I had jumped in to STS.

I was given the blessing to start doing leg workouts again about a month or so ago, in addition to the PT work, but was advised to no longer try to squat large amounts of weight. I thought that was going to be a hard order to follow. I love to go heavy, but I know now the risk to my knee is just not worth it!

I am now doing the program as written (5 months after my injury), with the extra PT moves 3x's per week, but I am not even looking at my 1 RM's for legs. I don't use weight yet for a few of the moves, I am focusing on form instead. Of course, without the cardio and normal workouts I was used to I gained some weight :eek:, so I suppose I am squatting SOME extra weight!

Patience is a virtue I wasn't blessed with, but it is one worth learning when it comes to knee injuries! Take your time and don't over do!!

Best of luck and I hope you have a speedy recovery!
 
I agree with the wise advice of the previous two posters. I know that it is extremely frustrating to not be doing something that you want to be doing, but take the time to properly heal yourself before doing STS. When I hurt my knee I was hobbling around so much I couldn't stand and do weight work or even get the weights to a bench. I too was stuck doing upper body on the nautilus machines at the gym and hobbling in between them.

I hope that you heal quickly. STS will be there for you when you are ready.
 
Your spirit shows that you still want to work your upper body through your recovery. Good luck and godspeed to you.
 
Thank you all!

I really appreciate the thoughtful comments.

I know you are all correct and that sadly, STS is not the right thing for me now. Believe it or not, I actually hadn't thought through the fact that I'd have to negotiate the different dumbbells, barbell etc while on crutches. Now that I think of that, the question as to whether I should try to do the upper body DVDs was pretty ridiculous!

I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon Tuesday so I will ask about using the machines at the gym and likely just stick with that and my PT.

Thank you all again.

~Linda
 
Speaking from experience

Hey

I tore my MCL almost 12 years ago and I am still suffering the consequences. I am not wanting to come of all doom and gloom but I have a couple of words of advice. When at the talking with the surgeons make sure that they know that you are an athlete. I assumed that because I was not on a professional team that I was not an athlete. This seemed to make a huge difference to the level of physio that I received and post surgery treatment. Make sure that you take as much physio that you need so both knees are equals again. I was just young and foolish to think that my best interests were being taken into consideration and did not know how to stand up for my self.

The STS has helped my knee considerably now but you will be a long while before you are ready to come back to STS for legs. It will be there waiting though! Good luck
 
I had an ACL complete tear. My ACL had been gone for several years. I was able to function well without one, hiking, running etc. this is highly variable..some people function quite well without one, others can't function at all. I had an accident in deep snow straining the MCL, causing me to have an MRI, and subsequent discovery of the missing ACL.

However.... I was able to ride an exercise bike on sunday after surgery on friday..... I checked with my surgeon BEFORE doing. this is NOT a challenge, just telling you how it worked for me. I rode slowly and carefully for 10 minutes and increased slowly each day. I was on crutches a couple weeks although I was able to comfortably bear some weight on surgery leg almost immediately.... while it was in a "leg immobilizer"... a cushioned /strap device to be sure your leg does not move out of a limited range.
I was in formal physical therapy in about 2 weeks. I was hiking very carefully on a limited basis and with a leg brace in a month.
I did significant exercise as directed by physical therapy over the next several months. I listed to the therapist and did not do anything he not feel was appropriate. For example, he felt running was too risky until 3 months out, so I waited. The surgery severs connections that take time to reconnect. the first times I ran I felt like my leg was made of lead! I was doing squats and lunges much sooner, again as part of therapy.

This may vary with the surgeon, but if you are a conditioned athlete you will be moving again sooner than you think. Be sure to request a therapist who has worked with athletes if you have a choice. (Usually therapists have trouble getting people to do the needed exercises at all, they don't often get people who want to do more!)
But respect the limitations they put on you because there is a reason not to do certain activities or movements. you don't want to endanger your grafts. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much activity you will be able to incorporate in not a terribly long time. I wore an ACL brace when doing sports for much of the next year just to be sure. I had a 100% recovery and I was an older dog ( 55) at the time of my surgery. You will be OK! Orthopedic surgery accomplishes amazing things.
 
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