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Author Topic: Snowboarding with a torn ACL?  (Read 1143 times)

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Offline kw909

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Snowboarding with a torn ACL?
« on: November 30, 2011, 03:58:28 PM »
Idk if this is in the right forum, but plz read (:
I fully tore my ACL about 2 months ago in soccer. I have been doing therapy since then and my knee feels perfectly fine except for the occasional (but rarely) weak feeling. Snowboarding season just started, and I just got a new board and new bindings and I'm dying to use them! It's torture thinking that I wont be able to board this season! My surgery is in a couple weeks and I've been thinking about giving snowboarding a try at least once or twice before my surgery so I'm not so so miserable lol. What do you guys think? Its pretty strong right now from the PT, and I have a hinged knee brace. I wouldn't do any jumps or rails or anything, just probably carving and basic turning. (I'm teaching my friend how to board so I would probably be on the small hills most of the time anyways. Is it a bad idea to do it? Also, It tore my ACL in my left leg (which is the leg I use in the front) Stories on past experience is much appreciated. Thanks in advance! [:

Offline Frosty

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Re: Snowboarding with a torn ACL?
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2011, 04:23:07 PM »
Sorry to hear about your ACL injury.

I have personal experience with this.  Nearly the same as you (mine was the front left leg as well).  I was able to board for a couple seasons, mostly with a brace.  I can say that my knee was pretty stable 99.9% of the time, but every once in a while it would buckle and hurt like crap.  I could keep the knee protected most of the time by keeping my knees bent ALL the time, but that can get exhausting; but overall, the more bend your bad knee is, the more protected it is. 

The challenge is that you cannot stay in perfect balance all the time due to low light situations, traffic, unexpected obstacles, and fatigue.  Then there is the chairlift which really torques the front knee, especially while LOADING the lift.

The decision to snowboard with a fully torn ACL is up to you, but be aware that if it buckles while riding, you will not only have the pain to deal with, but also the possibility of tearing precious cartilage and/or damaging other ligaments.   :cry:

My knee is fully repaired now (hamstring graft method) and holds very strong.  Actually stronger than I thought, almost like new.

I am not going to tell you what to do, but I can say this.  I am older now (37) and both my knees suck.  My left has been repaired surgically twice (once to rebuild ACL and once to repair torn cartilage) and my right knee is worn all the way down due to favoring the left one for so long.  I wish I would have taken better care of them when I was younger!

Offline kw909

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Re: Snowboarding with a torn ACL?
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2011, 05:52:34 PM »
Thanks, I think I'm going this weekend I'm just going to be very careful

Offline Frosty

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Re: Snowboarding with a torn ACL?
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2011, 12:55:37 PM »
Alright.  Have fun and stay safe bro!

Offline Frosty

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Re: Snowboarding with a torn ACL?
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2011, 06:52:38 PM »
So hows the knee doin'?
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