ACL rehabilitation
Strength, stability and confidence, one step at a time. Whether you have had a reconstruction or are managing the injury without surgery, we guide you through every phase, in collaboration with your surgeon.
The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee and the one that keeps it stable in cutting, pivoting and quick changes of direction. ACL injuries are common in football, netball, skiing and basketball, but they can happen to anyone.
What ACL rehabilitation restores
Rehabilitation after an ACL injury or reconstruction is not just tissue healing. It is a structured, progressive program that rebuilds:
- Range of motion
- Neuromuscular control
- Quadriceps and hamstring strength
- Proprioception and joint position sense
- Walking pattern and tolerance to load
- Confidence in everyday movement
- Readiness to return to sport
The program, phase by phase
We do not run cookie-cutter protocols. Your program is designed around your injury, your surgery if you have had one, your sport, your goals and your timeline, always in collaboration with your surgeon. These are the stages we guide you through.
Acute: the first two weeks after injury or surgery
- Reduce swelling and inflammation
- Restore knee extension
- Begin quadriceps activation and isometric, non-weight-bearing exercise
- Gentle patella mobilisation; advice on bracing and crutches if needed
Early strength and range: weeks two to six
- Restore full knee flexion and extension
- Begin closed-chain exercise such as mini squats and leg press
- Focus on muscle control, particularly the VMO
- Start the stationary bike or hydrotherapy; correct any gait deviations
Strength and neuromuscular control: weeks six to twelve
- Progress resistance training: lunges, step-ups, hamstring curls
- Introduce balance and proprioception drills
- Core and pelvic stability work
- Monitor swelling and pain; begin low-impact agility
Running and agility: three to six months
- Return to running, based on strength, control and hop testing
- Introduce plyometrics, changes of direction and single-leg landing mechanics
- Build confidence in high-velocity movement
- Functional testing: Y-Balance and hop tests
Return to sport: six to twelve months
- Sport-specific drills and reactive agility
- Return-to-play criteria: at least 90% limb symmetry in strength and hop testing
- Psychological readiness assessment, such as the ACL-RSI
- Injury prevention programs such as FIFA 11+ or the Netball KNEE program
- Final clearance in collaboration with your orthopaedic surgeon or sports physician
It is more than physical
An ACL injury is a setback physically, mentally and socially, and fear of re-injury or doubt about getting back to sport is normal. Our clinicians work on your resilience and confidence alongside your knee, and we listen, encourage and guide you the whole way.
Why Phyxit for ACL rehab
- Hundreds of ACL injuries rehabilitated, from grassroots players to elite athletes
- Practice aligned with the latest orthopaedic and physiotherapy research
- A program built around your sport, your body and your goals
- Objective return-to-play testing with VALD ForceDecks to guide a safe return
- An on-site gym and rehab space, all under one roof
- John Melville is trained in the Cross Bracing Protocol for non-surgical management
Ready to get started, or want a second opinion on where you are in your ACL journey? Book an ACL consult online or call us on (02) 4228 9299.
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Ready to get moving again?
Book online, or call and our admin team will find you a time. New patients get 50% off their initial assessment.