My eighth month after ACL and meniscus surgery was filled with hikes in Colorado, increased activity, and another follow up appointment. Throughout the month, I really focused on getting my quad strength up and progress my functional movements in hopes of getting cleared at the end of the month. In this post, I detail my month 8 post-op, including my progress and new exercises.
For a full breakdown of my injury and surgery, head to this post.
How I Felt Month 8 Post Op
I worked extremely hard this month, and I saw it pay off. This month, I went on numerous hikes in Colorado (including the Manitou Incline) and add more intense functional movements. I was dead set on getting cleared by the end of the month, and I felt I was getting much stronger.
At the end of the month, I had my follow up appointment. I did the 2-speed biodex and the Y-balance test. My patellar tendon still hurt a lot during the biodex. My surgeon said the difference on my Y-balance test stayed the same, even though the numbers for my left leg got much better. Once again, my (healthy) right leg got even stronger, even though I had been doing only single-leg exercises and focusing more on my left leg. This appointment was incredibly frustrating and disheartening, especially when she said to come back in another eight weeks. Despite all the work I poured into the past couple of months, it was not enough and my healthy leg continued to widen the gap.
How My Knee Felt Month 8 Post Op
My knee was really starting to feel much more normal this month. I was able to do more intense cutting, plyometrics, and agility activities. I continued to get my speed back and add more weight to my workouts. The time I noticed the difference most was with explosive movements, where I did not feel as stable or as quick. At my appointment, I was advised to now exclusively lift weights on my left leg, which is rarely prescribed. After many months of the same issue, they saw this as the only solution that would help narrow the gap between the strength in my quads.
Major Events During the 8th Month
- Did 5 hikes in 6 days in Colorado while visiting a friend.
- I did the 2-speed biodex and Y-balance test at my follow up appointment at the end of the month. There was still a difference in my quad, and I was asked to come back again in eight weeks.
- Added more agility exercises including deeper cuts.
8 Months Post-Op Exercises
Focus: This month I focused a lot more on agility and plyometrics as well as power
Watch some of my exercises HERE
Soccer/Plyometrics
- Ladders
- Agility running patterns
- Technical sessions with the ball
- High knee runs
- Bunny hops
- Sprints 80-90% of top speed
- Box jump patterns
- Lateral SL box jump
ACL Surgery FAQs- 8 Months Post Op
Could you walk normally?
Yes.
Could you run?
Yes.
Could you sprint?
Sort of. I was still working on getting my full speed back. I could run like 80-90% of my full speed.
Could you jump?
Yes. I was working on many single-leg jumps as well as higher box jumps.
Could you cut?
I was working on some light cutting. I could not cut at full speed.
My Entire ACL & Meniscus Surgery Journey
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12