Park skiing after acl reconstruction

My first time I skied the next season no problem. I was 8 months out by the time Killington opened and I was hitting features all year, it would get achy here and there. I'm currently 9 weeks out on my 2nd reconstruction on the same knee, probably won't even make it on snow for the '14 season.

My surgeon told me 6 months before I had my surgery.  So I put in 6 months of hard PT.

Exactly 6 months after surgery, she told me to go skiing.  So I did.  Six months and one day.



But I don't ski park, just pow/big mountain stuff at Kicking Horse.

I gave mine probably like 8 months, maybe even 9, of not doing anything but therapy. But that was the first year I went to college and NJ got like no snow, not that that's different from other years... But I didn't do much skateboarding, soccer or anything else I do during that time. And the hill didn't open till like january or something. I pushed around eventually, and it was my pushing leg, so that made my calf get properly sized again. I also used the gym at school to continue light exercises after the pt sessions. Do some therapy and don't hit the big jumps your first day back.

i gave both of my acl reconstructions at least 6 months which my surgeon suggested both times. i got the patella graft though. depending on your age and which reconstruction you got it might not be the same amount of recovery time for your new acl to recover

Im 13 weeks out of surgery, had a hamstring graft, quite a lot of PT plus i work full time in a job where i am on my feet all shift for up to 12 hours. Been told by the surgeon and my PT I should be fine to ski in December but not to push it for the first month or two. When getting back on skis what have people found to be the problems? Anything been heavy on it?

I had surgery late april on my acl and both sides of meniscus. the clinic at the university in my city is where the canadian ski team goes for surgery so they are used to seeing skiers in there. He said I would be good to ski groomers but not much else this season. I'll be about 8 months post surgery when my local spot opens up and my physiotherapist told me "not to take my skis off the snow this season" cause it takes 18 months for a new acl to fully graft. but my surgeon told me I'd be able to ease back into park skiing so I will probably just take it easy and hit rails. I deferred a year from going to college cause I'm going into a snow resort co op program and wanted to make the most of it.

also depends what kind of surgery you had. my surgeon told me hamstrings will graft quicker but have a higher potential for reinjury, and patella tendon will be a longer recovery/graft but hold up better under impact and stuff. mine was done with my patella

i stopped skiing park after I tored my ACL (completely through) and MCL (halfway through).

The PT's assessment is probably more realistic, as he/she gets to watch your individual progression. There's a lot of variability in how people recover. Although, you should really try to find a PT that has experience with skiing - it'll make a big difference to have someone that understands the demands you'll place on your knee and experience dealing with sports rehab.

All good things to hear. Im not up for rushing back to hit it hard, i just want to get on the mountain again, and if i can ski some pow i will be happy. Any of you guys have some advice on skiing backcountry with a new knee?