This is for those that enjoy playing regular soccer, skiing or basketball:
I hope you never have a knee injury. It sucks. But what sucks even more is reinjury.
Control your urge to play again. Professionals get back on the field in 4-6 months and thats their full time job.
Trying to get back on the horse in that timeframe without a professional support structure will result in reinjury. Running on a treadmill and some PT does not mean you are ready for a contact sport. Your reflexes and natural balance take a while to reset to baseline.
My (bilateral...) PCL injury took about 18 months to resolve. It was way longer than anyone was willing to tell me at the time.
The good news is that it's now like it never happened, but I suspect that's because my only exercise during those 18 months was walking and light calisthenics.
I would add onto this. If your injury was non-contact, and many are, make sure you are strengthening the muscles around the joint. After a partial ACL tear, I have become obsessed with single leg stability exercises, as well as improving overall strength at the hips and ankles, to take stress off of my knee.
The doctor said it wouldn't heal on its own, but it did with no surgical intervention.
I hope you never have a knee injury. It sucks. But what sucks even more is reinjury. Control your urge to play again. Professionals get back on the field in 4-6 months and thats their full time job.
Trying to get back on the horse in that timeframe without a professional support structure will result in reinjury. Running on a treadmill and some PT does not mean you are ready for a contact sport. Your reflexes and natural balance take a while to reset to baseline.
I hope this message saves someone from reinjury