Client Stories - Abbie: ACL Rehab Pt. 3

In the final installment of this series Abbie details the final phase of her return to basketball from ACL injury.

Once you overcome the 3 month mark I think the worst of the rehab is over. Assuming all is done correctly and to a high standard you get to move onto more mobile rehab where Callan’s role becomes really important.

Having weekly/monthly plans which set out goals of where you’re aiming to get to is so beneficial and it keeps you accountable. It’s easy to take the pressure off rehab as you are moving relatively well and hence you feel fixed, but that’s definitely not the case! This is when you really need to push your body to learn good habits again.

I was going to the gym roughly 3-4 times a week doing 2 legs and 2 arms sessions before I started running at about 5 months. When I say running, I mean I started doing very light straight line jogging. It was really up to how comfortable I felt which determined how quickly I increased my running intensity. I was able to start preseason with my basketball club at 7 months which at this point I was confident in running but only slowly introducing change of direction. It was such a good feeling being able to join in with everyone again and also helped having a good fitness base so I wasn’t running at the back!!! Basketball wise I started to also introduce some shooting but just on the spot, then at about 9/10 months I started to practice some dribbling and shooting drills incorporating change of direction. Due to the way the seasons lined up I didn’t end up officially coming back to play until about 18 months after the surgery. In hindsight the longer break you can have the better, gives your body more time to recover and your confidence to build!

I am now back fully playing and am far stronger and fitter than I was before doing my knee. I’m in a good routine training 3 times a week and going to the gym around 3 times a week. Callan continues to plan sessions for to keep focus on strengthening muscles to support my knees.

I am very much looking forward to the basketball season starting in March!