Boxing is one of the most dangerous sports in the entire world. Adding to the fact that someone is trying to punch you as hard as possible, it also includes sudden motions shifts, which may tear your anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. Let’s examine whether you can box with such an injury.
You cannot box with a torn ACL because the knee is unlikely to support aggressive landing or sudden change of directions, which are highly common in boxing. As a result, you’d have to go through a healing process, which is done with surgery. Likewise, tearing this ligament can be extremely painful.
You can identify this type of injury by hearing a loud pop sound from your knee. When you do hear it, it’ll be best to stop all exercise immediately. If you continue on with your training, you may cause permanent damage, even after surgery.
Now that you know that a popping sound from your knee when you box—is bad news, you can stay calm if it does happen. If you already have a torn ACL and want to continue your boxing journey, it’ll be best to consult a professional medical source before doing so.
The number of athletes who lost their ability from such injury—is higher than what you may think. For example, Klay Thompson tore his ACL but managed to recover. That’s because he had a team of professionals who helped him recover.
This article will examine the correlation between boxing and ACL tears. While it’s not the primary sport that causes such a ligament injury, it can lead to having that injury. As a result, it’ll be best if you know how to avoid it and treat it in case of trouble.
Before we dive in, if you want to learn more about the physical changes you’ll see in your body once you begin to box, follow the link.
What is a torn ACL?
The ACL is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint. It links between the shinbone and the thighbone. Athletes are mostly known for tearing it in sports which involve sudden change of directions, such as tennis, soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
A torn ACL is when a tear or sprain is made on the ligament. Likewise, it often happens in sports which involve sudden change of directions, such as soccer, tennis, football, basketball, and boxing. A loud popping noise will occur when it has torn. Such an injury—can be extremely painful and is the most feared amongst athletes.
Signs and symptoms of an ACL injury usually include: A loud pop or a “popping” sensation in the knee. Severe pain and inability to continue activity. Rapid swelling. Loss of range of motion. (Source)
Unfortunately, the ACL cannot heal on its own, as there’s no blood supply to this ligament. The stabilization it provides is required to safely perform the many motions and sudden change of direction in these sports.
For that reason, surgery is required for boxers who want to continue their career. It’s important to mention, however, that very minor tears (sprains) may heal with non-surgical treatments and regenerative medicine therapy.
What causes torn ACL?
If you’re a boxer, you’re in danger of tearing your ACL ligament. That’s because boxing includes motions and change of direction that may lead to such an injury. Often, we see athletes having their career taken back by tearing this ligament; as such, it’s one of the most feared injuries in the world of sports.
A torn ACL is most commonly caused by sudden pivoting or cutting maneuver during sport which involve rapid change in motions, such as football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, boxing, and MMA. Likewise, the ligament can also tear due to work injuries and automobile accidents.
When the ACL tears, you’ll hear a loud popping noise. This snap is all you need to hear before you know that you must stop all activity immediately. While it may be painful, you may be eager to continue your training.
Do yourself a favor and cease all training as soon as possible. You’ll save recovery time later on in the future.
Eventually, boxing is one of the primary sports that cause ACL tears. That’s because you’re constantly in the move and constantly changing directions. Pivoting is a well-known technique in boxing, and can cause a sprain in the ligament.
Can you box without an ACL?
Without an ACL, the knee is unlikely to support aggressive landing, cutting and pivoting. Living with a torn ACL may mean limiting participation in sports, work, and activities that cause the knee to swell, give way or feel unstable. Risk of other injuries. The ACL restrains the thigh and shinbone in the knee. (Source)
You cannot box with a torn ACL because it’s what stabilizes your knee. Boxing is a sport which requires you to pivot and change directions often. Therefore, if you box with a torn ligament, you’ll find it impossible to continue fighting after jumping or pivoting, as you’ll be unstable and in extreme pain.
Likewise, you shouldn’t train if you have a torn ACL, even if you really feel like it. Eventually, you may cause additional injuries solely from the fact that you have continued on with your training.
As I previously have mentioned, you don’t want to continue boxing if you have a torn ACL. You might cause more injuries in the future, or even lengthen your recovery time. As such, it’ll be best to seek medical help if you heard a snapping sound from your knee during any exercise.
Some runners even have torn ligaments, as they change directions. But, sports such as boxing—are much more common for such injury, because they involve rapid change of directions way more often than running.
If you want to learn whether boxers take creatine, follow the link to an article of revealing the answer.
How long will it take to box after ACL surgery
If you have managed to tear your ACL, don’t worry. While recovery make take a lengthy period, you’ll still be capable of slowly indulging in sports, such as boxing. Although you should avoid boxing when you first sprain your ligament, with the help of the medical world, you’ll be capable of returning slowly.
It’ll take 8-9 months, on average, to return to the boxing ring after you torn your ACL. However, some people may recover in 6 months. Within the first few weeks of surgery, you should aim to regain a range of motion. And still, some people will only recover after a period of 12 months; only then to return to boxing.
An ACL tear recovery time is generally eight to nine months, though some people may recover in six months. (Source)
When athletes hear that popping sound, the first thing they do is ensure they receive medical help. Later on, surgery is mandatory to ensure complete recovery of the ligament. If they want to have the slightest chance of returning to their previous selves, surgery, combined with regenerative treatment—is required.
By the end of the third week of surgery, patients will start walking without crutches. Additionally, you’ll slowly notice yourself being capable of going through intense exercise. While it may not be sparring or boxing the heavy bag, you might feel comfortable shadowboxing.
You should strive to do anything in your ability to recover from such ligament sprain. Many boxers have experienced a torn ACL and managed to return to their prime. While they have a medical team working 24/7 on them, you can recover too.
Ensure to emphasize recovery and regenerative medical treatment. For instance, you want to regain full range of motion. Here’s a video I encourage you to watch.
Final words
If you injure yourself while boxing, stop all training immediately. Even if it’s during a professional fight, your aim should be to stop all long-term additional recovery time. And, you may add more time by continuing your training even after the popping sound from your knee.
The ACL tear is one of the most common injuries amongst athletes. Its recovery time can take up to 12 months, but sometimes only 6. Likewise, surgery is almost always required, unless the sprain is small enough.
Boxing can be dangerous. Make sure to pay attention to your movements. If you follow your coach’s instruction, you should be solid in terms of injuring yourself.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you’ll also enjoy reading about whether boxing is a safe sport. Likewise, it discussed how to avoid various injuries; so make sure to read it.