ACL Injury: A Life Sentence for Dirt Bikers?

[@flatlandriver2471]

Very glad to hear your surgery and recovery are going well. Coached soccer when my youngest played. On one of the training courses that rookie coaches endured the instructor talked about acl injuries and how girls were much more susceptible. “A good test is to have the girls jump off a bench and watch their knees when they land. If there’s a tendency for the knees to knock together they’re more susceptible to acl injuries.” And I thought… I’m not doing that. Coed soccer (football in most of the rest of the world) and preteen girls. I’m supposed to segregate the girls, line them up and watch their knees while they jump off a bench? Just freakin no. But I did get the whole team to do the acl exercises and I did add a note on the “welcome to the team” kick off speech that was the only time all the parents were present. There were lots of acl injuries in that youth league overall. Fortunately none where I had to help someone off the field. Conclusion; there are lots of female soccer players who have had acl injuries and surgery(s) on their way to becoming superstars. Consider your injury as confirmation that you’re firmly on the road to superstardom.

[@BikeHedonia]

I had a good laugh at the idea of your knee-watching duties haha. So awkward. But yeah, definitely a thing. In fact, when I think about women I know who ride enduro seriously, about 8 or 9 out of 10 would have had an ACL reconstruction at some time. I had never really focussed my mind on this risk before, and it's huge. But as you point out, the good news is the ACLs are eminently repairable if the surgery and rehab is done right. Love the hypothesis that I'm on my way to superstardom, I'll just be over here working on that ;)

[@Encyphix]

Better Faster Stronger sounds good. Keep that sunny disposition - helps us all!

[@jonathanleonard9003]

So glad to hear you've got your spirits up, I can't imagine having riding taken away like that. Our sport definitely is a physically demanding one and unfortunately sometimes it takes an event like that to show you where you need to be physically. I'm sure you'll be jumping soon enough. Keep at it! 😊

[@kaningrat]

Good to see you good Gracie mate.

[@generalt1090]

Yay! Glad to see/hear you are doing so much better! G…

[@CamperKev]

Ohh nooooo !!! I was only thinking about you the other day. I'm so sorry. I have fallen behind with your adventures. From tonight onwards, I will go back and catch up and stay up to date. Wishing you a full recovery "BikeHedonia". You are certainly something very special. Loving your KZbin Channel. 😍

[@BikeHedonia]

Oh, thanks! Yeah there were some misadventures vis-a-vis my right knee. On the mend now though! Back on the bike by October, though, right in time for the good riding weather here.

[@enshinsenseidan]

Glad you're getting better!

[@Kirby_kinetic]

Good to hear you are feeling better

[@blueythenomad]

Good news. Thanks for the update. I’m 5 days post ACL surgery (6 weeks post injury - monkey grabbing my boot in India) and the reality of not walking, exercising, riding hasn’t been pleasant. Just resetting, and seeing others journey has been useful. Good,luck with the rehab.

[@BikeHedonia]

It's great that you've had the surgery and are on the path to recovery so soon. Hope you had the surgery in a nicer hospital than me haha. The recovery period can get you down a bit which is natural, so be kind to yourself and remember that it's normal to feel like crap for a bit, and this too will pass. :)

[@blueythenomad]

@@BikeHedonia Yes, I saw your journey. Difficult, that’s for sure. I was lucky and managed to drive to Kolkata then onwards to Dhaka where my wife was working and I could use her apartment for R&R; then return home to Penang for surgery once things stabilised. Certainly agree on self care and getting out and about. Essential. Great video, addressing an issue for a lot of bikers. Look forward to seeing your recovery. Good luck.

[@BikeHedonia]

@@blueythenomad Thanks mate, all the best with your recovery too. Hang in there and keep us posted. Let me know if you're ever passing through Chiang Mai on another adventure.

[@aldntn]

Absolutely right! Cheers!

[@MotoSaunter]

I played recreational soccer in a men’s over 40 league (over a decade ago just to date myself) and an ACL replacement surgery scar seemed like a requirement to get through the door. Glad your recovery is apace and am looking forward to your continuing adventures. P.S. nice digs.

[@BikeHedonia]

Yeah, football sounds like a particularly high risk sport for ACL injury - all that change of direction . I was surprised to learn about the rates of re-injury though. I'm so keen not to do it again! Thanks, the hotel is a nice spot! We use it as a starting point for our moto tours.

[@clemoniii]

Ahhh, so wonderful to hear great news this far post operative. Guarantees the recovery will be a good one. It's that P'Lah's hotel in Chaing Mai?

[@BikeHedonia]

Yes, this is P'Lah's hotel. The Balcony Chiang Mai :)

[@iainelder4976]

Nice to see you’re still in good spirits Grace, I bet there’s been a few occasions when you’ve looked at one of the bikes and thought ‘well, the keys are over there and nobody’s watching me …’

[@BikeHedonia]

Whenever that feeling comes over me, I remember how it felt to be in that Vietnamese hospital post surgery with no food, water or nursing care, and I am suddenly motivated to do exactly what my physio says so that I don't have to do that again!

[@georgeferguson9779]

That’s great that you are doing so much better! Looking forward to seeing you back on your bike!

[@enduromotorradtouren]

Good news, Grace! You're getting back to normal. And if that means more physio, well, that's okay. And worthwhile with a little discipline. The enduro bikes and tracks are waiting for you. All the best, Günter/Nürnberg

[@BikeHedonia]

Thank you Gunter, I hope you're doing well and enjoying life also. :)

[@enduromotorradtouren]

@@BikeHedonia Oh yes, Grace, I do. I took out the Aprilia V4 to the Saxonian/Bohemian twisties for a couple of days with friends. Need a new front tyre now. Next week scooter tours to Bavarian Forest and Austria north of the Danube river (and forays into Czechia, one of my favoruite countries). Summertime means riding a lot, wintertime making videos, reliving the season and preparing the next. A bit like your life a tour organizer :-) As long as you're healthy such a tight timetable is possible. All the best, Günter

[@Oilcruzer]

Great to hear you are mobile. Sooooo many questions. Why are ACL injuries dominant in football, American football, and hockey? Is it worse for women? I’ve seen multiple injuries to males riders. ACL? Not in top 20. Are women riders predisposed? Preventative exercises? Squats? Warm stretching? Lifts? RIDER TIPS FOR EVERYONE Falls and injuries are when, not if. The key is limiting occurrences and effects. Concentration on options and avoiding causes, always, helps a LOT. Expect the hazard to appear. Especially people turning across your path. Proper gear and learning how to fall will limit the effects. It may save a rider’s life.

[@johnshropshire3399]

👍👍

[@wattsmichaele]

Please find and read one of Dave Barrs book on his motorcycle travels…multiple amputee…rode a motorcycle solo all over world…just get on and ride…you’ll be fine.

[@BikeHedonia]

Well, call me a pussy but I won't be rupturing my graft by putting it under undue strain before it's healed. It took me 9 months to save up to have my knee fixed and I want it to stay that way.

[@koenigdp1978]

Are you going to wear combination knee braces and pads (e.g. Leatt, Alpinestar, EVS) when you do enduro? I started wearing knee braces to hopefully prevent injury after watching so many of my older riding friends blow-out knees. I don’t know if it helps, but they cost less than my insurance deductible (medical in the USA is awful expensive).

[@BikeHedonia]

I always wear Mobius knee braces. In fact, I was wearing them when I resected my ACL! They are good, but not magic.

[@yorkchris10]

Use your legs to lift the bottle.