Anyone here with ACL injuries?

How old are you? Meaning, you will have to prioritize as you age. If you're 40? Time to hang up "going heavy". If you are 25? Did you have a cadaver tendon or your own hamstring or patella portion was used.

Mine was a middle third patellar tendon graft. I knew my days of heavy squats were over. I worked out fairly heavy for years after. But I am not talking ever power lifting and knee wraps "heavy". I always compromised. Smith Machine squats (call me a puss if you wish) and leg presses.

Your knee will let you know it is there for the rest of your life. Listen to it. You don't want to be the guy getting a knee replacement at 48.

It's a different world now though. I don't know what 25 year old me would have done to my knee. With cross fit and HIIT style training now.

I'm 38 and I tore my ACL at 20. I never got it repaired but I'm able to go heavy still. Only problem I have is I've started to develop arthritis in that Knee early than I should have. As long as you don't make many lateral movements(I.E. putting the side of your foot against any heavy weight and trying to slide it or move it) and keep your feet steady you should be able to push it

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I'm 38 and I tore my ACL at 20. I never got it repaired

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I'm in the same boat. I'm 37 and tore mine 16 years ago. Staying in shape is a requirement for my job (military) and I've never had an issue.

Yeah it'll pop out sometimes when I play racquetball or basketball, but after a few days of swelling it's fine.

A weird thing I've noticed though is if I've had a "setback" the best thing for my knee is to go for a run after a couple days. It clears the swelling up and gets me back to full speed a lot faster than taking it easy. Who knew?

Man I think I just had an awesome surgeon or got lucky. Had it Mardi Gras 2013. Had 3 months of post op rehab but didn't do anything until 9 months and started playing golf. Played softball again about 15 months post op. No problems. I can hear it when I bend down. Had cadaver tendon.

Now I play golf all year about three times a month. I play in a coed softball league that is rec not competitive. Never swells. Never aches. I do not jog or run at all but I never did. Don't wear any sort of brace or protection. Tore acl and meniscus. 34 now.

ETA. Realized you were asking for workout stuff. I ain't got time for that. Somehow got on the wrong board.