Whether you are waiting to have an ACL reconstruction surgery or a few weeks post-operation, it is vital to start your ACL rehab ASAP after injury.
Our rehab process for ACL reconstructions are divided into 4 phases: 1) Acute management, 2) Strength Building, 3) Plyometric and 4) Return to Sport.
All of these phases can vary in time frames as everyone recovers at a different pace. To return to normal daily functions such as walking, squatting, steps and running can take you around 6 months. However for you to return to sport safely, ACL rehab does take an average of 9-12 months in total.
Our rehab process for ACL reconstructions are divided into 4 phases:
- After an ACL injury or reconstruction, we would expect to see plenty of swelling around the knee joint, lack of mobility and reduced muscle activation in your leg muscles.
- This phase is aimed at restoring full knee mobility, reducing all swelling, and activating lower limb muscles so you can have a normal walking pattern that is without the support of crutches.
- We generally see our patients complete this phase within 4-6 weeks post-op.
- This phase is generally the longest phase and can take around 3-5 months to complete depending on how fast you can build strength in your legs.
- We start this phase off with some baseline strength measurements which we will reassess every 4-6 weeks throughout the phase.
- We may begin with bodyweight exercises and progress to gym based resistance training to stimulate strength and muscle growth in the legs.
- Additionally, towards the end of this phase we aim to restore your ability to run in a straight path comfortably..
- Before this phase we would need to make sure that you have passed all of your strength criteria to progress you into this phase safely.
- The goal of this phase is to restore your ability to be bouncy, change directions quickly and jump and land safely.
- This phase is where we start to teach you how to absorb force and land correctly when you jump in preparation for jumping, hopping and bounding training.
- This phase tends to last about 6-8 weeks
- This phase is specific to the individual and it is where we work together with you to understand your sport and different movement aspects that are required.
- We use sports specific drills to get your brain and body accustomed to the movement patterns required in your sport.
- We progress from a controlled drill to more uncontrolled and unpredictable training such as mock games with your team.
