Hi all
I tore my ACL and it was operated 7 weeks ago. Rehabilitation is going ok. Gradually shifting emphasis on building strength. Speaking of which, I started wondering if low cadence cycling could be beneficial. We all know that cycling generally is often recommended. I can find some studies on the benefits of eccentric cycling, but it would require special equipment. I think if would make sense that low cadence high torque training would also be helpful in building strength, but I can’t find any studies or recommendations on this matter.
Any insights from the community?
Not an official answer as I am not a medical professional but I have had an ACL reconstruction so can share my experience. Cycling, including low cadence work, has definitely helped get my legs strong and that helps my knee but I’d say the key thing is targeted strength training, specifically single leg stuff. Single leg so that not only are you building strength but also stability. So stuff like lunges, Bulgarian split squats, single leg RDLs, really help to isolate the injured knee and build strength and develop the muscles that stabilise the knee; the stronger these are, the less strain you put in the ACL. Yoga also helpful to keep subtle and again stable.
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