I am wondering if there are any kite surfers out there who have ever suffered a complete tear of their ACL and have returned to kiting successfully without an operation once your knee & mobility is normal again. If so please let me know and if you use a knee brace and what type please,

Cheers Duncan

@Sunshinepacific - I tore my left knee ACL and MCL 4 years ago in October while playing basketball. Being advised by one of top knee surgeons in my country, who happened to be one of my best friends and ski/kite buddies I didn't undergo ACL reconstruction, had my knee immobilized for a month so that the MCL heals. Mid December I was skiing with DonJoy A22 brace, in the month of May I started kiting also wearing a knee brace. Since the next season I do not wear the brace when kiteboarding, just for ski and hoops. My knee feels good, no pain at all. I do have rare moments of weird instability sensation - e.g. when mis stepping on uneven ground, but so far so good. I go to MRI yearly to make sure there is no higher wear and tear in the knee due to the lack of ACL. I also keep myself in decent shape all year round.
Let me know if you have specific questions. Will be glad to try to help :)

Select to expand quote

zlatko said..
@Sunshinepacific - I tore my left knee ACL and MCL 4 years ago in October while playing basketball. Being advised by one of top knee surgeons in my country, who happened to be one of my best friends and ski/kite buddies I didn't undergo ACL reconstruction, had my knee immobilized for a month so that the MCL heals. Mid December I was skiing with DonJoy A22 brace, in the month of May I started kiting also wearing a knee brace. Since the next season I do not wear the brace when kiteboarding, just for ski and hoops. My knee feels good, no pain at all. I do have rare moments of weird instability sensation - e.g. when mis stepping on uneven ground, but so far so good. I go to MRI yearly to make sure there is no higher wear and tear in the knee due to the lack of ACL. I also keep myself in decent shape all year round.
Let me know if you have specific questions. Will be glad to try to help :)

So your ACL and MCL healed on its own? Pretty good.

How bad was the tear?

I put up with a complete ACL tear for 8 years, it eventually got to the point that my knee would be unstable just doing day to day stuff. As you get older assuming your not old already your muscles will weaken and you will find the knee will become more and more unstable. I eventually had a knee recon and never looked back. I wish I had it done when it first happened.
I learnt to kite after the acl tear but eventually I couldn't do the things I wanted. If I had my time again I wouldn't hesitate to have the op straight away.

Select to expand quote

Surf12 said..
So your ACL and MCL healed on its own? Pretty good.
How bad was the tear?

It was a complete ACL&MCL tear. MCL has a blood flow and can heal on its own, but ACL can not heal ever when completely severed. I am currently with missing ACL in my left knee.

@pezza - I am not young, but I (try to)keep in a good shape. So far, so good after four years. I keep an eye on the knee and if I ever feel the need - will undergo ACL recostruction. That is also the recommendation of a person who does ACL recon for living

I suffered a complete tear of my ACL and a grade 2 tear of my MCL a few months ago and am now feeling very normal, walking and even running etc and would love to return to kite surfing without an op so its encouraging to hear you have done the same and returned to kiting if you have ? I will still wear a brace or knee strap and am wondering if you are doing the same without the operation because at the moment kitesurfing is the only thing i haven't tried successfully. I kite in the waves doing downwinders on a surfboard.

Cheers

@Sunshinepacific - Yes, my first year after the injury I used a DonJoy A22 knee brace for kiting, then from the next summer I am kiting without the brace. I had suffered injury similar to yours - complete tear of ACL and MCL. No operation.
This year I have approximately 60 days kiting, mainly twintip, started with the strapless surfboard as well. I am not advanced rider - I do small jumps, backrolls,...basic stuff....nothing really dangerous for the knees. At the stage of learning foot swapping on surf board I have the impression that it is easier on the knees than the twintip riding. But wave riding could be really different.
As I wrote - I try to keep myself in a good shape and I am a lighter rider(~70kg). I also undergo MRI once a year, just to make sure there is no abnormally high wear in the knee joint. If I start having pain and difficulties doing my sports - I will undergo ACL recon.

Thanks for your reply and encouraging to hear your still kiting without ACL surgery. I am also a light 72 kg person and keep in shape with a lot of walking and exercise bike time, Im not an advanced kiter either and i ride a surf board board with foot straps so I will start on good easy kites in a few months with a brace & see how I go. Thanks for your reply and advice

Tick for Donjoy.. I went on a 5:2 diet (Dr m.mosley).at the time as this promotes body healing. Stopped when lost too much weight. Unintended consequence
Think I can find DonJoy if u r interested..
Cheers
AP