Hiking in Escalante with ACL injury.....

[John Kerby]

Ok, back again. Last summer took the guys on the school trip, did not do the entire Death Hollow hike much to their dissappointment. Going back with most of them this year in two months as they loved it and are desperate to do the entire thing. Really made me feel good, the fact that after doing the first third from the airstrip to the Hollow and back they still want to do it again. Question for you guys is....

I am taking an awesome young man who last fall tore his ACL. I do not know the full extend of his injury, but I do not believe he needed surgery. He walks on it fine now, and says it occassionally hurts a bit, but nothing bad. I am probably going to have him get cleared by his doctor before we leave, but was curious if any of you had done any hiking with an ACL injury? I have no experience with this kind of injury, so am in need of advice. This injury was last fall, like October or November.

 

[Dustin Gent]

I tore my ACL and waited two years to have surgery. They had to take a hamstring out and replace the ACl as it was completely gone.

With that said, there were a couple of instances where it popped out of socket. I waited two years and it never healed. I didn't do anything crazy (didn't play sports after i tore it). A small slip and it can get bad quick.

However everyone is different. I tore it when I was 23 i think - so 13 years ago

 

[John Kerby]

Well, talked to him today. He said he injured it, and before they could really check it out they cleared him and said it was basically healed. So, maybe not a complete tear? Or maybe a mild one? Just the same, I will have him get a phisical to be safe. It was months ago, and he is taking a practice 10 mile hike locally in a tough area of ks in two weeks to see how up to it he is. Would rather he injure his acl on THAT trip, just a few hours walk out maximum and a 10 minute ride to a dr. then in the middle of Death Hollow.

 

[LarryBoy]

my buddy tore his ACL a few years ago in February and had surgery in April. We went on a short backpacking trip (Upper Muley) in September and he was in quite a bit of pain.

But ACL's are so variable that it's tough to say.

 

[4runnerrocky]

I am an Athletic trainer (not to be confused with personal training) and an EMT. I deal with ACL diagnosis and rehab daily.

In short... if you are carful of your footing and do not push through much fatigue ... he will be fine.

Full length ...There are athletes that perform with out an ACL (the hamstring muscles perform the same stabilization.)

As long as the guy has full range of motion (heel to butt and all the way straight) and good strength can squat with his full pack (butt to heels) he should be able to perform the hike. The swelling in the joint capsule will be present as the miles lengthen, this is when the pain will set in.

The safe call is do NOT go... but as a young guy even with a completely ruptured ACL you can still hike if he is slow and deliberate especially when fatigued (like Dustin said above) a dislocated knee is the worst senario.) So take into consideration 2 things

1-the doctors clearance - specifically a orthopedic surgeon

2- the toughness of the kid... is he a sissy or a boy with the toughness of a man's man.

Best of luck on the hike... I hope the young man can make it

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