Hi everyone –
You may know me as the President & owner of Fitzgerald PT and/or as your physical therapist. But what you may not know is that in 2012, I tore an ACL while playing adult league soccer. Then in 2018, I tore the other one. Playing sports all my life, I’m used to athletic related injuries – but had never experienced ones of this caliber. I underwent reconstructive surgery both times and was in need of (a lot of) post-op physical therapy. I became a patient of Fitzgerald instead of the Physical Therapist! It was a long road to recovery, which included more than year of PT each time.
Why did it take that long? Current research on timetables for returning to sports after ACL reconstruction surgery recommends a delayed return of at least 9 months – as well as a focus on equal quad strength bilaterally. This allows enough time to also regain quadriceps strength comparable to the uninjured side.
According to Beischer, “Young athletes who returned to knee-strenuous sport earlier than 9 months after ACL reconstruction had approximately 3 to 7 times the rate of new ACL injury compared with those who delayed return to sport until at least 9 months after surgery.” Within the first 9 months for every one-month delay in return to sport, the reinjury rate is reduced by an additional 51%. (Grindhem, 2016)
Symmetrical quadriceps strength is also important in determining re-injury rate: Patients with increased symmetry of their quadriceps strength and who returned to sport at least 9 months after surgery had an 84% reduction in the rate of knee reinjuries. Quadriceps strength deficits prior to returning to sports is a significant predictor of a knee reinjury. (Grindhem et al 2016)
Many patients are not taking the rehabilitation required to address post-operative strength and are being cleared to return to sport (or are returning on their own accord) without appropriate evaluation and further guidance. Therefore, it is crucial that athletes meet certain strength, agility, and functional measures to be safely cleared before returning to sports.
We at Fitzgerald PT, are fully qualified to assess and evaluate your readiness to return to sport as well as design the best ACL reconstruction post-op individualized program to help you achieve your goals. Believe me – as I experienced it first-hand myself!
Below is a a picture of me – back on the field! So happy to join my team again. Special thanks to my staff who cheered me on and helped me every step of the way. I couldn’t have done it without them. It’s been 4 years since my last surgery, and I’m still on the field playing and coaching.
Happy to talk to anyone further about my experience or how we can help you post-op at Fitzgerald PT!
In health and healing,
Dr. Holly Fitzgerald