You can shower after ACL surgery straight away and get wet as long as you are careful to keep the dressing and wound dry!
Generally speaking most surgeons agree that you can shower straight away or within a few days after ACL surgery but you must take care to keep the dressing and incision dry.
Prior to stepping under the running shower water, try wrapping a plastic cover or water proof plastic sheet (or bag) over your knee to help provide an extra layer of protection to your incision.
More precisely this may include placing a polyethylene food wrap or plastic bag over the top of your knee and seal the top of the plastic covering with a tape or an elastic.
Often your surgeon will apply a waterproof dressing. Avoid saturation of the knee which includes not taking any baths or swims in a pool until your wound has completely sealed over and is clean.
The precautions above are more important in the first 10 to 14 days after ACL surgery – which is the period prior to having your stitches removed (normally at your first follow up appointment).
In the early stages of your ACL recovery, pain and swelling in your knee is likely to impact your knee functionality and present a variety of challenges with your day to day living including:
- walking after ACL surgery in your own home and
- standing and balancing upright in your shower after ACL surgery which may at first a bit of struggle
These challenges are likely to dissipate sooner than you may expect, especially if you commit to the daily requirments of your post ACL surgery exercises and recovery protocols.
What are your risks of taking a shower after ACL surgery?
During your recuperation after ACL surgery you will still need to shower but you must keep your knee dry
You should look to avoid saturating the dressing including avoiding taking baths and swimming pools until the wound has completely healed over
In addition if you are taking any narcotics or medication to alleviate pain you may need to be careful with your balance if any side effects are experienced
Furthermore it is important to be mindful that most people will experience a significant reduction in knee functionality and balance after ACL surgery
Therefore take care to ensure that you do not slip or incur any sudden twists in the shower especially during your early recovery phases when the knee is weak and debilitated
5 helpful tips to help you with showering after ACL surgery
After ACL surgery due to the initial onset of pain and swelling in the knee, it is not uncommon to find it challenging to perform simple activities such as walking in your home or standing up straight in a shower
Below we discuss 5 useful tips to assist you with showering after ACL surgery
1. Keep your incision dry at all times
The dressing on your knee is often removed in your post-operative appointment approximately 10 to 14 days after surgery. Up until that point of time you need to keep the incision dry at all times and avoid saturating your knee
In this early stage of your ACL recovery timeline to take a shower you may consider applying a plastic covering / sheet or bag over your knee bandage to ensure that you keep your incision dry at all times. Whilst the dressing on the knee may water resistant, the plastic covering will provide for an extra level of protection
Be careful to ensure that the plastic sheet / bag is completely sealed (use tape or even an elastic band) above knee. The key is to prevent running water from dripping through underneath the bag and onto the dressing
After your shower be careful when removing the plastic to firstly clear any excess water that might be caught near the top of the bag
2. Keep clear of baths and pools
As noted above, after ACL surgery it is important to keep the incision dry at all times
Therefore do not take a bath or swim in a pool as this will cause saturation around the knee. Once the stitches are removed and the wound has healed then you are right to go.
Wait for at least 24 hours after removing the stitches before swimming, to ensure there are no complications and the incision has healed in a proper manner
3. Avoid warm water on the knee after ACL surgery which can cause an increase in swelling
Try not to let warm shower water flow over the top of the plastic covering on your knee (in particularly the part of your knee where the dressing is located) as this will cause the tissues surrounding the knee to swell and dilation of the surrounding blood vessels (swelling) is likely to occur
Therefore try to move your bad knee to the side and out of the way of the flowing water whilst in the shower
4. Use a chair or handrail. Sponge clean as an alternative option
Within the first few days after ACL surgery you may be experiencing significant pain and swelling which limits your confidence to stand on a shower floor until knee functionally improves.
If you not confident standing in your shower after ACL surgery then you can also sit on a chair or use a handrail. Sponge cleaning is another alternative option until you feel more comfortable and gain confidence with balancing in the shower.
5. Careful not to slip on the shower floor
Watch out for a slipper shower floor which can often have remnants of soap and cleaning products that cause the surface to be slippery
You need to avoid any sudden knee movements in the early phases after ACL surgery and therefore you should take specific precautions to limit the risks of any falls or slips
This is particularly important in the first 1 to 2 weeks after ACL surgery when only limited pressure may be applied to the bad knee.
If you are concerned with your ability to maintain balance whilst standing in the shower you may also consider using a water resistant stool or shower chair to sit on.
Before surgery, can I shower with a torn ACL
A simple activity such as taking a shower or walking with a torn ACL is normally very achievable before ACL surgery. It is advised to avoid any sudden twisting motions and to consult a doctor immediately after the injury.
When is full immersion in water possible
Within 3 weeks post ACL surgery full immersion in water is possible as long as the incision from surgery heals in a proper manner and there are no complications. This also means that you can start your ACL swimming exercises which are highly effective for your surgery recovery!
Summary
You can shower after ACL surgery straight away and get your leg wet as long as you are careful to keep the dressing and wound dry!
Key tips for showering after ACL surgery include:
Keep your wound dry!
The stitches in your knee are normally removed in first 1 or 2 weeks after surgery but up until that point try keep the incision dry and avoid saturating your knee. You can apply a polyethylene plastic wrap over the top of your knee when showering to keep it dry.
Do not immerse yourself in a bath
Your surgeon will often apply a water resistant dressing to your knee after ACL surgery. However, it is a good idea to avoid baths and swimming pools until the wounds are clean and have completely healed.
Avoid heat on your knee
When showering after ACL surgery, move your bad knee to the side and out of the way of warm water to avoid dilation of blood vessels and an increase in knee swelling.
Avoid sudden slips on the shower floor
To start showering after ACL surgery you may wish to take precautions from sudden slips by either using a chair to sit or a handrail to balance. A non-slip shower mat is also recommended.
Full immersion in water is normally possible by about 3 weeks after speaking with your surgeon.
Good Luck With Your ACL Knee Surgery Recovery!
Click the link below for a copy of your Free ACL knee recovery checklist:
Leave a Reply