Windsurfing with torn ACL
Larry Kessler
ligament) in my left knee. My orthopedist (who also windsurfs) thinks I
should be able to and not even wear a brace. I'm not so sure about
waterstarting and jibing with a potentially unstable knee. If I elect to
have ACL reconstruction surgery, that'll probably wipe out the '96
season, but if I don't have surgery it could be a very short season.
Anyone have a similar experience ?
Brian C. Burke
> ligament) in my left knee.
Larry,
I am an expert slalom sailor and have windsurfed for the past 14 years
with a torn ACL. Mountain biking keeps my leg muscles strong and my knee
stable.
Go for it.
Brian
wi...@teleport.com
I've been sailing the gorge for 10 years with a totally annhilated left ACL
(done in the surf on a big day off Cabrillo Beach in Southern Calif) I don't
sail ocean waves much anymore, but I'm 50 years old now and got nothing to
prove. I love the Gorge, great winds, fresh water, no sharks or breaking
mangling surf,lotsa great boardhead buddies, the coolest windsurfing town on
the planet... Hood River. How can you hate the gorge??? I usually wear an
elastic brace with little plastic battens in it in the beginning of the season
to add extra support but as the season progresses and my muscles strengthen, I
usually put it away except for the really nuclear days. To prepare for the
season, I usually ride an exercycle in the winter months, my mountain bike the
rest of the year, go to the gym and do a little wightlifting, especially leg
extensions and leg curls.
But all that's in the past (except the workouts... conditioning is always the
name of the game) I had ACL reconstruction surgery last October. They're
doing it arthroscopically. I had one of the very best orthopedic surgeons in
the Northwest, DR Jon Greenleaf, himself a gorge windsurfer. I was in bed for
one week, on crutches for another and riding a bicycle on flat ground after
three weeks! Now several months later, I can do almost anything I want within
reason. The healing's not complete yet, but I have no trouble. I highly
recommend it. And be sure to use a crylogic cooling device which costs $100 or
so to ease the swelling and pain. Makes all the difference. Give it some
thought. If you want to know more you can e-mail again or call me at 503
699-0463. Happy to talk to you about it.
And if you're planning to come to the gorge give some thought to staying in
Rowena. That's where my place is. See my post in the newsgroup from time to
time. NUCLEAR WINDS IN THE GORGE.
your cyber pal, Joe Burke
> I'm seeking some advice on Windsurfing with a torn ACL (anterior cruciate
> ligament) in my left knee. My orthopedist (who also windsurfs) thinks I
> should be able to and not even wear a brace. I'm not so sure about
> waterstarting and jibing with a potentially unstable knee. If I elect to
> have ACL reconstruction surgery, that'll probably wipe out the '96
> season, but if I don't have surgery it could be a very short season.
>
> Anyone have a similar experience ?
>
----
Joe Burke wi...@teleport.com
wi...@teleport.com
wi...@teleport.com
Mike Eglington
> I'm seeking some advice on Windsurfing with a torn ACL (anterior cruciate
> ligament) in my left knee. My orthopedist (who also windsurfs) thinks I
> should be able to and not even wear a brace. I'm not so sure about
> waterstarting and jibing with a potentially unstable knee. If I elect to
> have ACL reconstruction surgery, that'll probably wipe out the '96
> season, but if I don't have surgery it could be a very short season.
>
> Anyone have a similar experience ?
Larry
I tore my ACL in July 1995, and not wanting to miss the rest of the
season, continued windsurfing with the be-careful-but-it-should-be-OK
apporval of my doctor. I sailed only on SF bay, avoided jumping,
except for small unavoidable chop-hops; tightened my footstraps,
because I was scared of getting a foot stuck in a strap and twisting
my knee especially in gybe transitions; and wore a hinged brace which
I bought off the shelf in a sports store.
It seemed to be fine, and after a while I wasn't worried about hurting
it, my worst moments were a couple of spin-outs, which suddenly
straighten your knee, but don't seem to do any real harm, and kicking
too hard when waterstarting in light air. My doctor recommended
keeping my knee slightly bent and tightening my hamstring during
gybes, because this locks your knee up. But as I say, I had no
problems.
I had surgery in October, and am planning to start sailing again when
the season starts. At the moment, I can do just about anything except
high-risk stuff like skiing and cutting and turning
sports... apparently one has to give the reconstructed ligament
(i.e. ex-patella-tendon) about 9 -12 months to strengthen enough to
handle these activites.
Good luck.
Mike
Michael L. Eglington
meg...@leland.stanford.edu
Tel: (415) 497-2316
Tim Hanson
Sorry to to here about your torn ACL, but for what it's worth, this
isn't the end of the sports world for you.
In 1980 I was hit by a car while surveying in the middle of a road.
The result: ACL was removed entirely, medial collateral was stapled
back on, and six weeks with a cast heeled a broken tibia and fibula.
Since then, I've successfully taken up downhill skiing, water skiing,
x-country skiing, windsurfing, diving, continued running, and am now
trying white water kayaking. Granted, not all of these are Knee
intensive sports, but enough are.
I have never worn a brace, nor had any problems - knock on wood :)
Go for it!!
Steve King
left.
I was out for 4 1/2 months but it took alot of work to get back I wore a
knee brace for a year. Now I just wear it on those big days and when I
snow ski. My doc says I have about 3 to 4 years and then I get to look at
a replacement knee on the left. But I sail so there fore I am!!!
Roger M. Christal
I tore my ACL in 1988 while windsurfing. The doctor "trimmed" it during
surgery. Unbeknownst to me, "trimmed" in the Orthopedic Dictionary is a
synonym of "removed". I've sailed ever since WITHOUT a knee brace.
BTW, I sail the Gorge. None of that sissy lake sailing stuff, you
know... {;^)
>>=- Roger Christal, Willamette Software, Inc., rog...@teleport.com -=<<