Find an anterior cruciate ligament specialist with these 12 tips.
If you have knee pain or knee discomfort, you want to recover. Some injuries and complaints go away on their own. A few tips and advice are usually enough. But a knee injury such as a torn anterior cruciate ligament, for example, requires specialized treatment. The outcome of your recovery (with or without surgery) depends largely on the quality and content of your knee rehabilitation. The question of who you will rehab with is therefore as important as who you will have surgery by. Guidance in your recovery by a specialized physical therapist is essential. In this blog you will get several tips to find your knee specialist/physiotherapist. You can also use our tips for other knee injuries. Read the 12 tips to find the best knee specialists in the Netherlands, or search for an anterior cruciate ligament specialist click here
Q&A
Start the Q&A and search for an anterior cruciate ligament specialist.
Are you looking for a knee specialist/physiotherapist who specializes in anterior cruciate ligament treatment? Dare to ask. Based on the answers to the questions below, you can get a fair to good idea of the physical therapist.
How many cruciate ligament rehabs a year?
Numbers don't always say everything, but is a good indication about someone's specialty.
Will there be group or individual training?
Cruciate ligament rehabilitation is not something you do alone. In addition to individual training, group training is an important adjunct.
Is there a suitable space to train?
A training room should provide sufficient space for free movement and training.
How long are you allowed to train?
Proper knee rehabilitation is not limited to a 30-minute physical therapy session.
Are there sufficient and appropriate training materials?
In addition to adequate space, the available training materials are essential to your rehabilitation.
Is rehabilitation progress assessed with interim measurement?
Good rehabilitation is characterized by intermediate tests that assess the progression of your recovery.
Does rehabilitation conclude with performance testing?
Performance testing gives an indication of whether sports resumption is possible.
Is there outdoor or field training?
Outdoor and field training are an essential part of your rehabilitation should you eventually want to return to sports.
How big is the knee team (in case of illness, vacation you should be able to pass)
Jij wil onder alle omstandigheden je revalidatie kunnen voortzetten
Which clinics and orthopedic surgeons are collaborating with?
It is nice and important if your physical therapist maintains short lines of communication with your orthopedic surgeon.
Is your schedule aligned with that of your physical therapist?
A logical question, but when schedules don't match, rehabilitation becomes difficult.
Can you motivate each other
It is essential to have a good relationship of trust with your physical therapist. Your physical therapist is your coach you need to motivate enough to train hard.
A few practical tips:
- Travel time: is the travel distance feasible (2-3 times a week)
- Opening hours: can you combine school, study and/or work hours with physio appointments.
- Click: Have a good click and confidence in your therapist.
Q&A extended:
12 tips for finding an ACL specialist.
How many cruciate ligament rehabs a year?
Several rehabilitation protocols can be found on how an anterior cruciate ligament rehab should look. However, anyone rehabbing after cruciate ligament surgery will find that their recovery goes differently than what is in the book. The biology of recovery is about the same in everyone, but the type of surgery, extensiveness of surgery, environmental factors, motivation and discipline differ. It's a plus to have a physical therapist who can anticipate this. Are certain pains normal? When should swelling go down? How hard can and should you train? Can rehabilitation be built up according to certain criteria to move to the next stage? These are continuous questions that are asked. A physical therapist with enough experience can guide you well in this. So check if your physical therapist regularly supervises cruciate ligament rehabilitation.
Will there be group or individual training?
It is nice to hang out with other people who are in the same situation, share experiences and motivate each other during rehabilitation. You can do different exercises in groups than when you train alone. Additionally, it is nice to mirror yourself to others if they also have certain clicks and/or pains. Furthermore, it gives perspective to see people in the next phase of training and to hear that certain symptoms go away by themselves. Fellowship contact is stimulating for your knee rehabilitation.
Is there a suitable space to train?
The training room is where you spend an average of 9 to 12 months 2 to 4 times a week. Of importance here is certain training equipment, as well as free space to run and jump. Additional facilities such as changing room, shower, good accessibility by bike, car or public transport ensure a pleasant rehabilitation. Also consider the travel time you are willing to travel 2-4 times a week.
How long are you allowed to train?
A physical therapy appointment is always only 25-30 min. However, at physical therapy practices specializing in knee rehabilitation, it is often possible to train for longer than one hour. For proper training stimulation, this is essential.
Are there sufficient and appropriate training materials?
Anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation doesn't just consist of classic strength training with machines and heavy weights. You want to be able to do varied training with free weights, water bags, free space, attributes for stability and responsiveness and possibly other innovative means.
Progression of rehabilitation is assessed with intermediate testing.
An anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation consists of several phases linked to criteria. To achieve your final goal, it is important to assess the phases and criteria in the interim. Through tests and training goals, targeted training can be done. In addition, the results of an intermediate evaluation can provide additional motivation or confirmation of how the rehabilitation is going. It also gives a nice overview of weaknesses that still need additional work.
Does rehabilitation conclude with performance testing?
The end goal of most cruciate ligament rehabs is to return to sports. Performance tests give an indication of the function of your knee, quality of movement and general fitness. Keep in mind that the sports you are going to play again, such as team sports, require tremendous movement speeds from you. The performance tests give an impression of how you move and whether you are ready for the next step in your rehabilitation.
Is there outdoor or field training?
The step from physical therapy practice to sports field is very big. Strength training alone is insufficient to prepare for other sports. There are still several training phases in between. Through outdoor training and field training, you can build up from simple to complex forms of training. It is important to gain confidence in yourself and in your knee during sport-specific situations.
How big is the knee team (in case of illness, vacation you should be able to pass)
A good therapist is important but so is good replacement. Your therapist will not always be available or may be temporarily unavailable due to vacation or illness. You must then be able to continue your rehabilitation.
Which clinics and orthopedic surgeons are collaborating with?
It's a nice thought that your physical therapist can have low-level consultations with your orthopedic surgeon.
Is your schedule aligned with that of your physical therapist?
Anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation is an intensive process where you will be at the physical therapist a few times a week for rehab. It can be challenging to fit this into your life (work, children, studies, etc). Check practice hours and the availability of your physical therapist.
Can you motivate each other
It is essential to have a good relationship of trust with your physical therapist. Your physical therapist is your coach you need to motivate enough to train hard.
In conclusion:
For good optimal rehabilitation, space, materials and access to field training/outdoor training is essential. But it's also important to gather a good medical team around you to get the most out of your rehabilitation. On The KneeClub there is a list of the best knee specialists in the Netherlands click here. No matter how well everything is arranged, you are ultimately responsible for the success of your rehabilitation. In addition to the above mentioned the 12 tips to find an anterior cruciate ligament specialist, if you have any tips of your own please share them below.
The KneeClub
(nb deze lijst kan je ook gebruiken om een kniespecialist te vinden)
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