ACL rehabilitation begins before you go in for surgery, as it is critical to organize certain things to ensure a smooth transition post discharge. First thing should be to organize to see your physiotherapist to start off your rehabilitation. If you have seen your physio for prehab then a detailed timeline would have already been created. Getting this timeline completed is crucial to set key time points for the next 12 months.

Post surgery rehab has 5 principles: 

• Do no harm

  • adhering to the surgeon’s post-op orders to enable the knee to begin the tissue healing both at the surgical site and inside the knee

• Local tissue capacity

  • building tolerance to loading the body gradually

• Global performance

  • returning to walking, normal activities of daily living, returning to running, change of direction, sport specific skills, non-contact training and then full training and finally return to the game.

• Skill development

  • straight line running, change of direction and sport specific skills.

• CV Fitness

  • returning to brisk walking, cycling, swimming and running.

First things first:

• Calming the knee

• Reducing pain and swelling

• Restoring range: Full knee extension first, then focusing on full flexion

Book now with us at Fieldwork Health to get started on your rehab program or for any other physio needs.

Phased approach

Phase 1: Protection phase

All about tissue healing, restoring quads and gait cycle

• Using passive modalities where needed to reduce swelling and pain

• Graduated exercises to keep moving and maintaining strength in the rest of the body

• Utilizing the gym to do these exercises

Phase 2: Load introduction

Introducing loads and key lifting capacity

• Building on the movements from the protection phase

• Address any weaknesses to ensure they don’t become a problem later in the rehab to return to running, change of direction and the sport itself

• Introducing strength to bring in a solid foundation for the upcoming phases

• Introduction to the plyometric continuum: for safe return to straight line running and change of direction for later phases 

Phase 3: Strength accumulation

Maximum strength and returning to running

• The largest phase where the first of the 3 big milestones take place: return to running

• Mini phases to introduce increasing strength the leg and whole body, with key recovery parts to ensure safe increases in strength

• Building on the plyometric continuum

• Incorporating field sessions for a safe return to running

Phase 4: Training integration

Return to training, power and sports specific skills

• The most important phase leading into a return to any sporting games/competition

• Will typically begin with a lot of restrictions: introducing training drills with the main group that is simple, easy to do and can include skills based maneuvers that is specific to your ball handling skills

• Safe return to change of direction, acceleration/deceleration and tackling/getting tackled

• Simulated games with less chaos and building to full game type scenarios

Phase 5: Return to performance

Return to play and return to perform

• Continue to maintain or even improve their confidence, strength and bio-mechanics.

• A program that will have a mix of plyometrics, balance and strength.

Each phase will have their own exit criteria and performance measures the patient should attain before moving on to the next phase. This is to ensure the person is appropriately ready and it is safe to transition to the next stage of their rehabilitation. 

Need help with your rehabilitation?

If you are in need of ACL rehabilitation, here at Fieldwork we specialise in helping people post ACL surgery to get back to what they love doing, fast.

Simply click here and book in with our specialist Matt and we can start that rehabilitation program for you.

We look forward to helping you in the clinic!