How To Sit After ACL Surgery?

Have you ever thought that a simple posture like sitting can be challenging for some people? This is true for people who have undergone a ligament or joint surgery. Simple activities like sitting, sleeping, standing, and walking can be difficult after joint surgery. ost-ACL reconstruction surgery, proper care must be taken to avoid pain, discomfort, and damage to your new graft tendon. Your operated knee is vulnerable post-surgery, which has to be taken care of by following specific guidelines. This will significantly improve your quality of life. Surgery alone does not help you repair your ligament; a proper rehabilitation program is required to improve your knee stability, flexibility, and function. 

Learn helpful tips about sitting with an operated knee with minimal pain and discomfort by reading on.

What Is ACL Reconstruction Surgery?

The ACL is a major ligament that runs diagonally in the middle of the knee joint. It connects the thigh bone to the shinbone (tibia). During an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, the torn or damaged ligament is surgically removed and replaced with a graft tendon (a band of tissue that usually connects muscle to bone). The graft tendon is either taken from another part of your body (autograft) or the tissues of a deceased donor (allograft).

How to Sit After ACL Surgery?

The knee is the largest joint of your body which connects the bones of your upper and lower legs. It is needed for most of your movements like walking, standing, sitting, running, etc. When you have had an ACL reconstruction surgery, recovery is crucial and challenging. Sitting after surgery also requires specialized techniques to avoid pain and discomfort. 

So here we bring a complete set of instructions that’ll help you with the sitting posture post-ACL surgery:

• Sitting on a chair
  • Avoid sitting for more than 30 minutes at a given time.
  • Keep your feet flat on the ground, and your knees and feet pointed straight toward the front, not turned in or out.
  • Stretch your knees or bend them slightly while sitting on a chair or as instructed by your therapist.
  • Always sit on a firm chair with a straight back and armrest. The armrests support standing up from the sitting position.
  • Do not sit on stools, (low) sofas, soft, rocking, and very low chairs.
  • When getting up from a chair, move towards the edge of your chair, and use your crutches, armrests, or walker for support.
  • Avoid crossing your legs while sitting on a chair until allowed by your surgeon.

Sitting on a chair helps get dressed. You should sit on a chair or your bed’s edge for stability while putting your pants on. 

It should be noted that one cannot leave the leg in a hanging position while sitting for at least the first few days. This is because post-surgery, blood flow in the leg is not normal. If you leave the operated leg in a hanging position, it could pool blood in that leg, eventually leading to blood clot formation, which can be fatal. Moreover, legs hanging at the edge of a bed or table can lead to swelling of your knee and leg.

• Sitting on a toilet seat
  • Avoid using Indian-style toilets. Always prefer a western commode (western toilet seat).
  • Toilet seats are usually low, making it difficult to get on and off after ACL surgery.  Use a raised toilet seat with rails, making the sit-to-stand position easy and comfortable.
  • Normally, when you sit, your knees bend to an angle of 90 degrees, which is impossible immediately after ACL surgery. Hence, use a stool to place your operated leg on it (by keeping it straight) while you use the toilet.
  • Your knees should be lower than your hips while using the toilet.

• Sitting while bathing or showering
  • Once your surgeon allows you to bathe, you can use shower chairs for sitting and having a shower. It can be a special tub seat or even a stable plastic chair.
  • These shower chairs are slip-proof. You can also use a stool to place your operated knee on it while you shower. This would keep your knee straight and prevent your dressing from getting soaked.
  • Never sit inside a bathtub until you fully recover. It will be challenging for you to get up safely.
• Sitting on the floor
  • When you need to sit down, especially for your rehabilitation exercises, you should not bend your knee for the first few weeks post-surgery.
  • Stretch your knee and keep it straight while sitting down.
  • Avoid sitting with crisscrossed legs on the floor for at least 3 to 6 months after your surgery. 
• Sitting in a car
  • Sitting in a car requires you to get into the car from street level. Pre-arrange for the front seat to be moved back as far as possible.
  • Car seats are usually low, and hence you may require to place soft cushions while sitting on car seats to raise the height.

Have someone help you lift your legs into the car. Slightly stretch and straighten your operated leg while sitting. Do not sit continuously during long car rides. Instead, stop, get out, and walk every 45-60 minutes. Also, be cautious and take help while getting out. 

Exercises To Strengthen Your Quadriceps and Hamstring Muscles

Two of the  chief leg muscles used to sit and stand are your quadriceps and hamstrings. Strengthening these muscles makes your knee joint stable and flexible, which will aid in sitting and standing with minimal pain and discomfort. Here are some of the exercises you can practice under your therapist to help strengthen these muscles:

• Straight leg raises- for getting the quadriceps working properly
  • Lie down with your back flat on the floor.
  • Bend your unoperated knee to a 90-degree angle with the foot flat on the floor.
  • Keep your operated leg with your knee straight, toes pointing towards the ceiling.
  • Slowly raise your operated leg 12 inches above the floor.
  • Hold for 5 seconds, and bring your leg back to the ground in the same position. 
  • Repeat 10-15 times, or as instructed.

• Hamstring curls- for strengthening the hamstring muscles
  • Lie on your belly and gently bend your knee.
  • Inhale and hold for 10 seconds as you bring your knee close to your buttock as much as possible.
  • Straighten your leg back to the floor. 
  • Repeat as instructed.

Takeaway

When it comes to sitting after ACL reconstruction, variables such as armrests and seat height affect your biomechanics of sit-to-stand movement. So, make sure your choice of seat is a good one – one that is more comfortable and one that is in terms of your specific needs. 

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Disclaimer: 

The content on this site is the copyright of Medfin and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered as a substitute for medical and surgical expertise. Results from any treatments or surgeries are subjective to an individual patient and the type of procedure/ surgery performed. Please seek professional help regarding any medical concerns. Medfin will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.

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