ACL Journey
A journey is defined as an act of traveling from one place to another (according to the dictionary). An ACL reconstruction and the rehab process after can be considered a journey. From the words “you have torn your ACL,” to pre-hab, to the surgery, to the days following surgery, until that final return to play status is achieved, the ACL journey is long and can take its toll. At Innovative Training Solutions (ITS) I can work with athletes at all stages of their ACL journey. The athlete will succeed in the post ACL rehab protocol and become a physically and mentally stronger athlete than their previous self.
The Post ACL Rehab program at ITS is unique. I have taken the basics of rehab and combined them with the basic principles of strength training. The athlete will start out with body weight exercise and use bands, yoga balls, med balls etc. However, the athlete will be advanced to squatting on a bar as soon as they are ready too. I do not force anyone into these advanced stages. I believe in overloading the joint progressively and allowing the body to adapt to that overload. This allows the body to build strength up. When the joint is increasing strength, it is also increasing blood flow to the area allowing for a greater healing environment. All ACL athletes are progressively overloaded according to their body’s allowance. This will allow the joint to adapt to jogging, sprinting, jumping and cutting without any excess pressures being placed on the joint.
The Physical Return
Athletes will be placed on a program according to the stage they are in when they first start at ITS. Pre-hab stage (before surgery) is where athletes will focus on regaining full range of motion and then working on their strength. The stronger the athlete is going into surgery the easier their recovery. Muscle memory will help the athlete regain quad control. Range of motion will be easier to attain because the joint was fluid and fully functional before surgery.
Post ACL rehab program design will depend on what stage the athlete starts at ITS. A general focus on single leg work and core work is established first. Then we move into core work with squat and deadlift. I reinforce hinging, pushing and pulling with athletes and make sure their bodies are moving efficiently with those movements. Squat form is highly scrutinized because it is the basis for all athletic movement. And if athletes are unable to even squat then they are setting themselves up for future injury. I follow the guidelines of the orthopedics I work with and most of them go with jogging at three months, jumping at four months and cutting at five or six months. Again, this is not set in stone for every athlete and will depend on how strong and stable the athlete’s joint is before they progress to athletic movements.
The Mental Return
The real struggle for ACL athletes is the mental part of the return. It begins from the initial start of the journey when they find out they tore their ACL. Often the athlete will go through the "why me" phase. It's hard to comprehend sometimes that they tore their ACL, especially if it was a non contact ACL tear. Why a non contact tear? Think about this...you are on the soccer field. You make a quick change of direction to get away from your defender as you take the ball up the field and something weird happens in your knee...it buckles. You don't understand why because you were doing something you had done time and time before. But here you are, in pain and realizing that the worse may have happened to your knee.
Next you have to go to surgery and then the long rehab process. A wave of emotions will run through the athlete throughout this process. For example, right after surgery, athletes have to bend their knee and get it straight. Their focus and determination are tested from the start. If they don't constantly keep working at their range of motion, then their knee will continue to stiffen up and give them problems while advancing to the next steps.
Athletes need to learn to trust their knee again. They need to learn how to be an athlete again. They may have to work hard, which for some is something they never had to do before. Sure, they were athletes before the injury. But some ACL athletes were natural, raw athletes. They never had to work at their God-given skill set. An ACL journey will push ALL ACL athletes to their limits.
At ITS I can reach athletes and help them through the mental return. How do I do this? There is no special technique or hidden book on how I do it. There is no way to explain this honestly… it’s just a thing I am able to do. I am able to push athletes and help them become the best part of themselves...even better than they were before surgery. The same promise is given to every athlete from day one; If you meet me half way, then once this journey is over you will be physically and mentally stronger than you were before your injury. And this is something I pride myself on at Innovative Training Solutions.
Why You Should Choose the Cash Based Route with ITS:
Patients choosing the cash based route will receive a more individualized treatment plan. Training programs can be full body with no insurance limitations and the focus can be on prevention and performance.
No insurance limitations:
There is no need for a referral to initiate or continue therapy. There will be no cap on visits. There will be no need for authorization requirements. The plan of care (ie training program) with insurance can only be whatever the initial script calls for. There is no room to veer and include more full body work.
Able to focus on prevention and performance:
The training program can be focused on full body training. Programming can include injury prevention, sports performance, return to play testing, VALD assessments, speed and agility and so much more!
Sessions may include:
Out of Pocket Therapy Sessions:
Pricing Options for Paying Out of Pocket:
Package:
- one month or 8 sessions (meet two times a week)
- 3 month commitment
- $400 total each month
- breaks down to $50 per session
Click the button below to go to the online store and pick the package that best fits. You will have to keep a card on file when you pick the package you want to commit too.
Have questions? Call Anna at (734) 933-1807 or email innovativetrainingsolutions09@gmail.com