My ACL Tear and Recovery
Entering Month Six: I’m Cheating Slightly
Okay, so. On August 27 it will be five months since I had my ACL tear repaired. At this point, I feel like I’m totally recovered. Of course, that’s not the case. The ACL isn’t even close to ready for the “hard stuff” – hockey, basketball, ultimate frisbee and the like – and my knee [...]
Into Month Five: Snowboarding is Coming!
Posting in the summer months is hard because the amount of news and information circulating about riding slows down. Resorts slow down. Everyone’s wakeboarding. So be rest assured I’m not ignoring the blog! I do have several posts lined up on some of the emails I’ve received lately related to specials, contests, new sites and [...]
My One ACL Hitch
When you have your torn ACL repaired, your recovery schedule is dictated largely by your surgeon. Some surgeons begin encouraging heavy exercise/activity/a return to ‘normalcy’ around eight months; others around 12 months. If my surgeon tells me not to ride again for 12 months, I’m out until February. And that would not be good at [...]
ACL Tear Update
Three months down. Knee feels great. Hamstring feels great. A little weaker in the quad, I think, but otherwise I’m doing awesome. Physio is down to once every two weeks, supplemented by workouts on my own at the gym. I’m doing lots of biking and golfing, but am not allowed to do much on a [...]
10 Weeks Later: ACL Recovery Update
This has become a popular page for people seeking ACL recovery information and experiences with arthroscopic ACL replacement surgery. If you’re interested in learning more about how I have been dealing with my ACL recovery, please check out these posts. Thanks for coming by! Below is the original post: It’s 10 weeks out, and my [...]
An Ode to Mountain Biking
Back when I tore my ACL and determined I needed surgery, I made an important decision. Instead of taking an available slot in fall of 2006, I opted to delay the operation until spring 2007. My rationale? I wanted to be ready for the 2007-2008 snowboarding season. I also figured it was easier to sit [...]
ACL Tears and Hamstrings: You Learn Something New Every Day
This ACL tear overview contains two key points I wish I had known before my operation: NOT moving the knee post-surgery actually leads to more pain eventually. Just like the overview says, my knee got really stiff and painful from inactivity within a few days. Although there are a few choices regarding procedure, my surgeon [...]
The Kids Aren’t Alright; They’re Tearing Their ACLs!
So says this west coast TV station, which is reporting kids are tearing their ACLs left, right and centre — thanks in part to snowboarding! Most everyone I speak with thinks I tore my ACL snowboarding. They are quite surprised when I tell them it was a combination of basketball and ultimate frisbee.
The Recovery Continues: Can I Ride Yet?
It’s been a little less than six weeks since my surgery for a torn ACL. Since I started physio about three weeks ago, lots has happened: – I stupidly strained my hamstrings trying to golf;- I’ve lost the limp;- My left quad is basically back to normal. The last point is kind of interesting. It [...]
Mountain Biking in the Don Valley
It is one of Toronto’s worst-kept secrets, and it also one of its best surprises: there is amazing single-track mountain bike riding in downtown Toronto. The network of Don Valley mountain biking trails stretches from downtown out to almost Scarborough, and the trails are technical, generally well-maintained and quite busy. It is absolutely amazing to [...]
