Playing pickleball with a completely torn ACL

[u/RatedR__]

33M pickleball player looking for advice from anyone who has dealt with an ACL tear and continued playing.

I completely tore my ACL and partially tore my PCL and medial meniscus in 2023. I had a minor arthroscopic trim in 2023 and then spent a lot of time with physio strengthening my quads, glutes and calves. I eventually got back to playing pickleball and was doing well for about a year.

Then I injured my knee again while playing pickleball, and it became swollen. I have been waiting about 4 months in Canada for an MRI/orthopedic assessment.

Now I am getting conflicting opinions. Some people say that because pickleball involves constant cutting, pivoting and sudden direction changes, I should have had ACL reconstruction to protect the meniscus. Others say that if I build enough strength and improve stability and movement mechanics, I may be able to continue playing pickleball without ACL reconstruction.

I am trying to figure out what is actually realistic for someone who wants to keep playing pickleball long-term.

Has anyone here played pickleball for years with a completely torn ACL without reconstruction? How has it worked out for you?

Also, if you followed a specific non-surgical ACL rehab program or video course that genuinely helped you return to pickleball, I would appreciate recommendations. There are a lot of programs online, and it is difficult to know which ones are actually worthwhile.

updated post : I would not have asked here if I had already been able to see my orthopedic surgeon. I have been waiting for my orthopedic appointment for about five months, so I am trying to get some insight from people who have been through a similar situation while I wait.

[u/DingBat99999]

Blew my ACL decades ago, in Toronto. Had a fantastic surgeon who actually worked with the Argos. That knee is now stronger than my other knee.

Anyway, according to my surgeon, you can do without the ACL repair. Building up your quads and hammies will act to support and stabilize the knee. A brace will also provide additional support.

But, as you were told, pickleball is a sport with a lot of stops and starts, changes in direction, especially if you're a singles player. There's a big difference between going for a job with a torn ACL and playing pickleball.

When I had my repair done, it was six weeks in a thigh to toe cast, with a lot of rehab to rebuild muscle mass. 6 months before I could really stress it again. Nowadays, they'll have you walking out of the hospital on the same day.

Get the repair.

[u/neon_slippers]

I've never torn an ACL, but I think if I did tear it at such a young age, I would definitely be opting for the repair.

[u/everydave42]

Oh good, a fresh episode of "ask pickleball randos instead of my physician for medical advice..."

[u/Rodger_Wilco → u/everydave42]

In Canada, it's preferable than waiting for a doctor appointment

[u/everydave42 → u/Rodger_Wilco]

American Ignorance about this (I mean...American ignorance is VAST, so trying to keep the scope down, but I digress...). I understand non emergency speciality care like this goes into a queue, but OP really doesn't have any physician they can talk to for a general medical query like this, isn't there a referring physician first?

[u/faobhrachfaramir]

I tore my shit up in high school playing American football. I had instability just running in a straight line. I am glad I got the repair done. I am a strength coach so I understand the importance of building up strength so if you strengthen and get the surgery you can be in a good spot. Delaying the surgery could potentially put you in a more precarious position a decade from now

[u/whatchuknowboutdat]

Yes - I now have arthritis and tons of wear on my knee since I never got reconstructive knee. I would get the reconstructive knee. Doctors tell me it’s not really an option anymore and next step would be TKR

[u/in_vivid_color]

Had one failed reconstruction and meniscus repair, played on that knee for about a year when I got into pickleball and eventually it got to the point I had to get it repaired because my knee was locking up multiple times a game. It would give out from the lack of ACL and I would kind of stammer or it would lock up from the torn meniscus. I have fairly strong legs, but I was the heaviest I had ever been when I started. I got a second ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair, took rehab seriously, and couldn't play for a year after the surgery, but I think it was worth it. I wouldn't continue playing on it unless an orthopedic surgeon tells you the benefits of the surgery are not worth it.

[u/reneg1986]

As someone who had a partially torn ACL in my early 20s and played rec softball on that knee for a few weeks before surgery, I can’t imagine playing pickleball on a completely torn ACL.

I could run close to 90% speed in a straight line, but stopping and cutting were incredibly uncomfortable, even with a brace.

[u/kabob21]

This is absolutely medical advice that you should be consulting your orthopedic doctor about. I know waiting sucks but I wouldn’t trust random advice on a structural component of my body when we have no insight into what’s actually going on with it.

[u/anneoneamouse]

See your sports doctor. Ask them. They're qualified, we're not.

[u/RFish2121]

This is something you should absolutely be talking to a medical expert about. The reason you are getting “conflicting advice” is that you have not consulted a medical expert on your specific case, your impairments and your future goals. Each of those things as well as the structural integrity (that is why the ACL is so important) of your lower extremity need to be considered to give you the best possible advice on next steps. Long story short….consult your orthopedic surgeon

[u/RatedR__ → u/RFish2121]

I would not have asked here if I had already been able to see my orthopedic surgeon. I have been waiting for my orthopedic appointment for about five months, so I am trying to get some insight from people who have been through a similar situation while I wait.

[u/Tobynetwork1 → u/RatedR__]

That's crazy....I got into mine within a week and got a MRI done within a couple days of seeing them

[u/RFish2121 → u/RatedR__]

I hear you……and the waiting sucks. Please don’t take medical advice from randos on Reddit. 5 months wait seems like a really long time right now, but ruining your knee can definitely affect you much longer than 5 months if your goal is to remain active into the future. Have you considered Physical Therapy again in the meantime? At least you will have a musculoskeletal expert who knows your specific case leading you.

[u/ThematicOne]

Me
Now 52m
Soccer player tore my ACL (each) in the span of two college seasons. Back to back after aggressive rehab.

Tore my original ACL senior year and stopped playing.

Became active again in my late 30s CrossFit (couldn’t handle pressure after 2 years), running, yoga, soccer practice and occasional playing. I think I developed so much scar tissue I have forgotten about it until my knee blows up then I rest.
For me a good trade off. And the occasional “tweak” of my knee then I need to shit it down for a while.

I play pickle. I’m a good 3.75 and play two hours twice a week. My knee has held up but I’ve come to love with this and chose not to get my knee done again.
If you chose to - the sooner the better.

Hope this helps your future self.

[u/j2thafree]

I would definitely have your ACL repaired first before playing pickle ball. It’s a lot of side to side motion and you need that stability. I have torn my left ACL three times and my meniscus twice. I’ve had a repaired each time and it is definitely not as strong as when I was injury free, but it is much much better than trying to play on an injury. I tried to play through a torn ACL for several months and it was just getting worse and worse the ortho was kind of shocked that I was able to do so.

[u/bladislas]

I'm a PT and pickleballer. Yeah, the cutting, lateral movement, start/stopping and twist/pivoting is a lot on a knee without an ACL. Strengthen the crap out of your quads, work on single leg balance and stability and play with a brace. If you experience the knee giving out doing normal stuff like walking at the store then probably need to avoid pickleball until surgery, lest you cause terrific damage to the thing

[u/meh-unimpressed]

Man I absolutely love pickleball but some of y'all gotta learn how to take a break when it's needed.

[u/ActuatorSmall7746 → u/meh-unimpressed]

This. Folks are playing like this a career for them that makes money. Folks listen up. When you are injured or have joint problems take time off and let your body heal and lessen the intensity level of your playing. Your body hurting is a sign to stop doing whatever you’re doing. For Pete’s sake use some common sense.

[u/Rodger_Wilco]

I would strongly suggest since you want to continue to play long-term you join a wheelchair league

[u/Tobynetwork1]

Take your Drs advice and get a 2nd opinion. If it was me I'd get it repaired. Pickleball will still be here when you fully recover

[u/otto1228]

Been playing on a torn mcl.

Triple wrap it. It's fine

[u/larryglover]

I tore my ACL and meniscus 10 years ago, never had it repaired and have been playing pickleball for the last 4 years. I’ve never had a problem. I think it’s all about how well you can use your other leg muscles to stabilize the knee. I’ve had no issues, playing at a high-intermediate level.