Can I pray, kneel and do sujood with a torn ACL?

Why the ACL rarely limits prayer

The ACL controls the knee when it twists and when the shin bone is pushed forward. Kneeling, sujood and sitting on the floor are slow, controlled movements without twisting, so a knee without a working ACL usually manages them well.

What limits prayer positions in the first weeks is swelling, pain at the back of the knee when bending fully, and sometimes an associated meniscus tear that catches in deep flexion.

In the first weeks after the injury

• Pray seated on a chair while the knee is swollen or painful; this is widely accepted when standing or bending is difficult
• Lower yourself slowly using your hands and the healthy leg
• Kneel on a soft prayer mat or folded towel to protect the kneecap
• Avoid sitting back on your heels if it causes a sharp pain inside the knee
• Rise by pushing through the uninjured leg first

Signs that something else is going on

If deep bending causes sharp pain on one side of the joint, a catching feeling, or the knee locking for a moment, a meniscus tear may be present alongside the ACL tear. Repeated pain in full flexion that does not improve after the swelling settles is worth an examination.

Daily routines in Qatar

Floor sitting at majlis gatherings, family meals and long prayers in Ramadan put the knee into deep bends many times a day. Gentle, regular stretching helps restore bending, and a cushion under the hips makes floor sitting easier.

At Aman Hospital, Dr. Gelber can examine the knee and, if surgery is chosen, explain how prayer positions are reintroduced afterwards.