Golf Life After ACL Reconstruction Surgery

[scooniepen]

Just found out that what I thought was a meniscus tear suffered on July 8th is actually a meniscus tear.

 

Has anyone here had experience with coming back to recreational golf after ACL reconstruction? How long was it until you could chip and putt? Hit balls? Make full swings? Actually play? Is there much risk of re-tearing down the line?

 

By way of background I'm 31, right handed and the ACL tear is in my left knee.

[AZBearcat]

I have torn both my knees. Do the surgery during winter. It will take full six months until you are 100%. I say you can start golf 3 months after the surgery but it takes time.

[Bucket]

Just found out that what I thought was a meniscus tear suffered on July 8th is actually a meniscus tear.

 

Has anyone here had experience with coming back to recreational golf after ACL reconstruction? How long was it until you could chip and putt? Hit balls? Make full swings? Actually play? Is there much risk of re-tearing down the line?

 

By way of background I'm 31, right handed and the ACL tear is in my left knee.

 

I tore mine when I was 29. You can almost start putting when they unlock the brace - at that time of therapy(6 weeks post op), they want you to put as much weight on the leg as possible.

 

Started chipping at day 90. Played 9 holes at around day 135 and played first full round at day 150.

[JRJ70]

I've torn my left Acl twice in the last 4 years. Started playing after 5 months on the 1st one and with the rehab I was doing it was like I never missed a beat. Tore it again in March of 15 and didn't want to give up a whole season, so I played the whole summer without getting it fixed. You're not going to hurt an Acl swinging a club, but be careful on uneven ground and going in and out of bunkers and stuff like that.

[scooniepen]

I don't like all these stories of tearing them multiple times or each knee!! LOL

 

Thanks for the responses thus far

[carrera]

I tore mine in 1992, and complication was the tip of the tibia broke off. I was playing 5 or 6 months later. Hard part actually was crouching to read putts and getting my ball out of the hole. Left knee and I'm right handed.

 

No problems since. Good luck, and do your rehab like a madman.

[scooniepen]

I tore mine in 1992, and complication was the tip of the tibia broke off. I was playing 5 or 6 months later. Hard part actually was crouching to read putts and getting my ball out of the hole. Left knee and I'm right handed.

 

No problems since. Good luck, and do your rehab like a madman.

 

Thanks! The consensus from what I've heard from others who've gone through it is that you have to take hr rehab very seriously and diligently.

[Coy M]

I had acl surgery on my left knee (right hander) when I was 14. Didn't start playing golf till I was 17, but I've never had any issues with my knee golfing.

[kiclub690]

@scooniepen

 

Just tore my right acl, I'm right-handed. Having surgery next week. Good luck with your surgery and recovery. Keep us posted on your recovery.

[scooniepen]

Thanks just had surgery last Friday. Things went well, definitely feel better than I did a week ago

[kiclub690]

How's your rehab going? Just had my surgery yesterday and went to PT today. PT is not fun! Got the rundown on timelines and heard I won't be playing golf for six months.

[SkiSchoolPro]

Had ACL reconstruction and meniscus trim in Nov '08 on right knee (age 41). Rehab seemed to go well and I skied a bit on it in the spring. Started playing golf left handed that summer (June '09), initially with mid-irons down, then full set. On a hilly course in late June, felt uncomfortable (slight knee instability) on a swing and switched over to right handed for the rest of the round and played a limited amount the rest of the summer right handed.

 

Injured the right knee again in May '11 and had ACL revision (2nd reconstruction) and meniscus repair. Surgeon said he saw no signs of the 1st ACL graft saying he was not sure if it had been gone for 1 month or 2 years. With the meniscus repair, they did not want weight on it for the first 5-6 weeks and I was much more patient with the rehab. Didn't play golf that summer and didn't ski again until spring '12. Got back into left handed golf summer '12 and won the Copper Creek Club Championship summer of '13. Knee has felt much more stable after 2nd surgery than the 1st and gives me 0 issues on the course.

 

I'd recommend listening to your PT and surgeon. Be diligent about rehab, but be patient about twisting and uncontrolled activities. I've been told that although the knee starts to feel better around month 3, that is actually when the ACL graft is weakest going through a period where it breaks down before rebuilding. I had a cadaver (allograft) both times. What type of graft did you guys have?

[kiclub690]

Thanks for the info. I've heard the same about the graft around month 3. Crazy how it gets weaker. I went with hamstring graft as it was my surgeons bread and butter and he seemed to think healing wouldn't be much longer. I was 29 at time of surgery.

[deadsolid...shank]

I had my surgery (right handed, right knee) in 2010 at age 47. Doc told me five months for golf and eight for basketball.

 

I was on the golf course after three( but basically playing one legged, right foot back and on my toe). I think it was probably close to the full eight before I was back playing normally. My buddy kept telling me I played better when it was torn but not fixed. What an a**!?��

[scooniepen]

Had surgery 9/1/17. Rehabbed pretty hard - just played about 7 holes in a golf simulator with full speed swings. Knee didn’t cause any issues, felt like I picked up exactly where I left off. Very pleased.

[BTP]

Had surgery 9/1/17. Rehabbed pretty hard - just played about 7 holes in a golf simulator with full speed swings. Knee didn’t cause any issues, felt like I picked up exactly where I left off. Very pleased.

 

Make sure you still keep up with the exercises you were prescribed in PT. Emphasize glute training as strengthening the glutes will help offload the pressure on the knee and the glutes are the most important muscle in the golf swing.

 

Depending on the type of graft you had, you may be more susceptible to reinjury. Recent studies have shown that allografts are upwards of 70% more likely to re-tear within 1 year compared to autografts (allografts are muscles/tendons taken from a cadaver and autografts are taken from your own body). I don't mean to scare you, and I am glad you are feeling great. Make sure you still keep up with the strengthening even though you're excited to finally be able to golf.

 

When I have my golfers return to play, I typically start them on a progressive interval training regimen. I don't know if your doctor prescribed you one but I will provide a link for you to refer to if you are interested. With the knew dynamic forces being applied to the knee in the golf swing and the repetition of such, do not be surprised if you are more sore than usual. If a golfer wants to return to golf and gets clearance by the doctor, it's important to start slow. I advocate flaring the left foot outward more than you usually do as to not put excessive rotation forces of the tibia on the femur and visa versa to still protect the ligament.

 

http://www.joshheenan.com/files/Interval%20Sports%20Programs.pdf

[freddy1682]

Apologies for digging up an old topic

 

I just had ACL reconstruction (allograft) 8 days ago. First PT appointment was last night. So far it’s been far less painful than I imagined it would be, but I know that doesn’t mean anything. 
 

I’m hobbling around with the brace and no crutches around the house here and there. Using the crutches when I get tired or go outside. Doing my PT exercises too. 
 

Im a PGA pro, working in banking now. Wondering if I’ll be able to play at all this summer. Any thoughts from those of you who went through it already?

 

Right handed and left knee. 

Edited January 27, 2023 by freddy1682

[HandsomeMatt]

 I actually picked up golf because a torn ACL ended my hockey career. and my body wouldn't let me do much else. Had an allograft, cadaver achilles since I was too old to use my own hamstring. My rehab wasn't THAT bad but it took a long time for me to trust the knee again, didn't feel like 'mine' for about 18 months and the first 9 months or so you're always questioning every little thing, phantom pains, tweaks, etc. Leg muscles start to atrophy very quickly so initially it's about getting those back. As far as golfing this summer it'll be about listening to your body I'd imagine.

       I've had 2 back surgeries and the ACL in between them, the knee was the worst of the three. There will be lots of doubt and internal concerns for a while but that's totally normal. I recommend taking rehab very seriously and come to terms with your knee never being the same again, it'll continue to improve for a long time but there will be days where it swells a bit, aches, etc.  I tore my right ACL and swing right and prefer to walk when it's not too hot, my surgery was over 10 years ago and it doesn't bother me at all on the course now. 

[mlaing]

Athletic trainer here…I would say you probably won’t or shouldn’t be taking a full swing for close to 6 months.   You should be able to start putting first then work your way up to chipping and pitches.   Communication with your surgeon is key and following his/her rehab protocol will set you up for the best outcome.  I know it may feel good before you really are good but that front leg has so much force going through it and you rotate hard on it which would be a solid no no for a new acl tear.  Take your time the last thing you want to do is re tear it.  Good luck!  Ps I tore mine 20 years ago and still going strong.

[NixLix26]

I have ACL surgery March 21st , right leg, right handed golfer.  
So it is reading like 6 months at least.  
sheeesh

[Smatter]

On 3/16/2024 at 5:15 AM, NixLix26 said:

I have ACL surgery March 21st , right leg, right handed golfer.  
So it is reading like 6 months at least.  
sheeesh

Nix how’s the recovery going?  I’m going under next week and have delusions of playing this summer.  My swing is very left leg dominant (I use right leg for balance not power) and I’ll just ride in a cart…. - have been joking you don’t need a right leg to play right handed - look at Tiger!