What to Expect During Your Post-ACL Surgery Recovery

The Road to Recovery

ACL surgery is just the beginning. The real work happens during rehabilitation. Here's a breakdown of the typical recovery phases.

Phase 1: Week 0-2 (Protection)

The goal is to reduce swelling and regain full knee extension. You'll likely use crutches and a brace.

Phase 2: Week 2-6 (Range of Motion)

We focus on increasing knee flexion and starting light weight-bearing exercises like stationary cycling.

Phase 3: Month 3-4 (Strengthening)

Now we begin building muscle mass in the quadriceps and hamstrings with controlled resistance training.

Phase 4: Month 6-9 (Return to Sport)

After objective testing, we introduce jumping, cutting, and sport-specific drills.