Average ACL Surgery Recovery Time & The Importance of Physical Therapy

It usually takes 9 to 12 months for a patient to return to sports participation following ACL reconstruction. Much depends on the level of competition, the type of activity, and the progress with postop rehabilitation. It takes a while for the ACL graft to become part of the knee and go through a process called “ligamentization”. This is the process of the graft incorporating into the knee and forming a new ACL.

Immediate Post-Operative Care and Early Rehabilitation

Patients are able to walk with crutches and a leg brace on the day of surgery. The patient enters a physical therapy rehabilitation program within a few days after surgery to restore strength, stability, and range of motion to the knee. Physical therapy is crucial early on to prevent scar tissue formation and reduce inflammation. The rehabilitation process is composed of a progression of exercises.

Key Stages of ACL Rehabilitation Exercises

Quadriceps muscle strengthening and knee range-of-motion exercises start early in the recovery period. This is accompanied by hamstring stretching.

• Running exercises begin at about 3-4 months.
• Pivoting exercises start at about 4-5 months.
• Sport specific exercises start at about 6 months.

Determining Full Recovery and Return to Sports

The determination of when a patient has fully recovered is based on the restoration of muscle strength, range of motion, and proprioception of the knee joint. Since everyone heals differently, there is no set time for athletes to return to sports. Returning too soon to sports, especially those involving twisting, turning, jumping, or pivoting can greatly increase the risk of reinjury if the new graft was not given enough time to fully incorporate.

Professional Clearance

It’s best to get proper clearance from your physical therapist and surgeon before returning to your sport. If you have questions, contact Burlington County Orthopaedic Specialists to learn more.