I've heard that when it comes to knee injuries like Daunte's, the knee and the supporting area is actually stronger than it was before it got injured. Is there any truth to this?
What The REAL Deal With knee Injuries Like Culpepper's?
- Thread starter Fin-Loco
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ckparrothead
Premium Member
The muscles? Yes. Ligaments? Not by a long shot.
If you rehab any one particular area for like 9 months, chances are the muscles are going to be stronger than they were before...unless you made it a normal 3 hour routine 5 days a week to strengthen your right knee even before you injured it...
But his ligaments are damaged. The ACL damage takes something like 2 years before it returns to the kind of tension it had before the injury...if it ever does at all.
The MCL heals quickly...but the PCL, that doesn't ever really heal AT ALL. It will probably still be slack for the rest of his life. That's ok thought because even running positions don't really need a PCL.
If you rehab any one particular area for like 9 months, chances are the muscles are going to be stronger than they were before...unless you made it a normal 3 hour routine 5 days a week to strengthen your right knee even before you injured it...
But his ligaments are damaged. The ACL damage takes something like 2 years before it returns to the kind of tension it had before the injury...if it ever does at all.
The MCL heals quickly...but the PCL, that doesn't ever really heal AT ALL. It will probably still be slack for the rest of his life. That's ok thought because even running positions don't really need a PCL.
BALLS DEEP said:
Yes, it can be. The artificial ligaments can be stronger than the real ones, and the rehab can increase the muscle strength beyond what it originally was. This can happen, not necessarily a rule. How do I know? 2 ACL reconstructions and 3 scopes.
trate121hb
Go Heat!
Lets Hope Its Stronger....
ckparrothead said:
What in God's name are you talking about? I've been operated on by Dolphins team orthpaedists and the Colts team ortho as well- when it gets done right they can tie the new ACL (from my patellar tendons) in there extemely tight.
In their words- BETTER THAN NEW. The rehab is critical- the tightest ligament in the world isn't going to to jack if the muscles aren't protecting it.
It's a different kind of ACL- not the same connecting points as where a real ACL is attached to the bones- the artificial ACL's can actually be tighter, but it's not the same thing as what you originally had. In that sense I concur.
DirtyDolfan
Practice Squad
This is true. The evidence suggests that the tensile strength of certain ACL reconstructed ligaments will be stronger than the original, but this depends on the specific graft that they use.jim1 said:
I would not be concerned with the strength of the ligament, but more so Daunte's confidence with his knee as well as the knee's proprioceptive ability. In basic terms, proprioception is the joint's ability to sense it's position and give feedback to the brain to adjust as necessary = a large portion impact on balance and agility. The ACL usually has a high proprioceptive "fiber" content and when it is injured, its ability to provide this important feedback to the brain is diminished. Fortunately, the surrounding muscles, tendons, and other ligaments can pick up some of the slack.
Hopefully in Daunte's case, the other structures will help him return to form...
DirtyDolfan
Practice Squad
From personal work experience, working on proprioception is a huge part of rehab following ACL reconstruction (and any ligament injury). Some of you might recognize these exercises as we use wobble boards / balance boards, exercise balls, and other equipment that forces the athlete to adapt to an uneven and moving surface.
DirtyDolfan said:
That's some really good stuff. You totally rang a bell re: the feedback. I never really thought about it that way, but it's almost like you have to re-learn how to move and re-train your leg. Excellent info.
chillwill3000
True Phinfan
I feel alot more educated now about knee injuries.
What in God's name are you talking about? I've been operated on by Dolphins team orthpaedists and the Colts team ortho as well- when it gets done right they can tie the new ACL (from my patellar tendons) in there extemely tight.
In their words- BETTER THAN NEW. The rehab is critical- the tightest ligament in the world isn't going to to jack if the muscles aren't protecting it.
It's a different kind of ACL- not the same connecting points as where a real ACL is attached to the bones- the artificial ACL's can actually be tighter, but it's not the same thing as what you originally had. In that sense I concur.
" No I'm not a doctor but i did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night"
thanks for the education boys
In their words- BETTER THAN NEW. The rehab is critical- the tightest ligament in the world isn't going to to jack if the muscles aren't protecting it.
It's a different kind of ACL- not the same connecting points as where a real ACL is attached to the bones- the artificial ACL's can actually be tighter, but it's not the same thing as what you originally had. In that sense I concur.
" No I'm not a doctor but i did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night"
thanks for the education boys
SWS84
Practice Squad
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DirtyDolfan said:
Nice info. everyone! I guess this goes without saying, but I assume Dante is going to have to wear a brace. Are they effective or is he pretty much done as a scrambler? Personally, because of his injury, I wouldn't mind if Dante was just a drop back passer and left the running to the RB's.
dont fumble
FinHeaven VIP
The original ligaments in fact are not as good as the replacements. But nevertheless I can't say I feel more confident with my new ligaments (I tore both my ACL's, too).
Everyone said, when comparing Brees with Daunte, that a QB needs his shoulder more than his knees. This may be true, but a QB also needs confidence. I'm sure Brees will have no Problem to go through his motion once his shoulder is fine again. That's still the question mark with Daunte and Carson Palmer. How will Palmer feel when he feels that the pocket collapses or a lineman falls down in the area of his knees? Will he still be able to just concentrate on the pass? That's the big Problem with knee injuries, the mental part. They will get it done, but it takes some time! More time than the physical part…
Everyone said, when comparing Brees with Daunte, that a QB needs his shoulder more than his knees. This may be true, but a QB also needs confidence. I'm sure Brees will have no Problem to go through his motion once his shoulder is fine again. That's still the question mark with Daunte and Carson Palmer. How will Palmer feel when he feels that the pocket collapses or a lineman falls down in the area of his knees? Will he still be able to just concentrate on the pass? That's the big Problem with knee injuries, the mental part. They will get it done, but it takes some time! More time than the physical part…
don't fumble said:
Yes the mental part is crucial, but dirtydolfan labeled and explained what I felt but never understood- the importance of proprioception. That confidence that you develop isn't just a mental thing. Your knee has to re-train itself how to send and receive information. It's mental and also very physical.
Den54
Punk Exterminator
So has anyone here had a hamstring tendon graph?