ACL Rehabilitation

Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Torn ACL at Kinetic Rehabilitation & Performance

Suffering from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) can be a daunting experience, disrupting not only physical capabilities but also challenging the mental resilience of an individual. However, with the right rehabilitation program, individuals can regain strength, mobility, and confidence to return to their daily activities and sports. At Kinetic, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive and personalised approach to ACL rehabilitation that ensures optimal recovery for each patient.

Initial Assessment and Customised Management Plan

During your first visit Kinetic, our team of experienced physiotherapists will conduct a thorough assessment of your injury, considering factors such as the extent of the tear, your current level of fitness, past medical history, and personal goals. This assessment forms the foundation of your customised treatment plan, tailored to address your unique needs and circumstances.

If surgery is recommended for your torn ACL, our team will guide you through the pre-surgery preparation phase. This may include prehabilitation exercises to optimise strength and mobility in the affected knee, as well as education about the surgical procedure and post-operative expectations. By preparing your body and mind before surgery, we aim to enhance your recovery outcomes and facilitate a smoother rehabilitation process.

Pre-Op Phase: Injury Recovery & Readiness for Surgery.

In the initial phase of rehabilitation, our priority is to manage pain and inflammation while protecting the injured knee. Through a combination of manual therapy techniques and gentle exercises, we aim to reduce discomfort and lay the groundwork for further rehabilitation. It is important to let the knee settle from the injury and regain a level of strength and function prior to surgery.

The key milestones in this phase prior to surgery are to reduce swelling, restore as much range of movement as able, have good quadriceps and hamstring strength of around 90% when compared to the other side.

Phase 1: Restoring Range of Motion and Strength.

As pain diminishes and healing progresses, we focus on restoring the range of motion and strength in your knee and surrounding muscles. Our evidence-based exercises and rehabilitation protocols target specific muscle groups, gradually increasing in intensity and complexity to improve stability and function.

The key milestones in this phase are to regain full extension (get the knee straight), continue to reduce swelling and keep the knee “quiet” and commence loading of quadriceps muscle group.

Phase 2: Functional Training and Neuromuscular Control.

As you progress through the rehabilitation process, we will gradually transition to more functional training exercises aimed at simulating real-life activities and movements. This phase largely focusses on regaining strength, balance and functional patterns that are important not only for the specific sport, but also for activities of daily living. Maintaining a high level of workload is important, but pain and swelling are still to be monitored.

The key milestones in this phase are return range of flexion and extension to normal, regaining single leg balance times, developing endurance in the posterior chain muscle groups namely calf, hamstrings and gluteals and continuing to develop strength in the anterior chain namely quadriceps and anterior hip.

Phase 3: Agility, Jumping & Landing and Return to Running.

As you approach the final stages of rehabilitation, our team works closely with you to facilitate a safe return to sports and physical activities. We incorporate sport-specific training, agility drills, and performance enhancement techniques to ensure that you not only return to your previous level of function but also minimise the risk of re-injury. This is done while progressing the strength and neuromuscular routine from the previous phase.

The key milestones of this phase are achieving excellent hopping performance compared to the other side ensuring quality and performance, commence an agility program that has been tailored to the specific sport or activity goal, and restore full strength and dynamic balance.

Phase 4: Return to Sport.

This final phase of the rehabilitation process sees a transition from rehabilitation to participation in normal training activities that is highly individualised and specific to the athlete’s short, medium, and long-term goals. We use subjective questionnaires to measure confidence and psychological readiness for Return to Sport (RTS), symptoms and function of daily living activities, and a measure of fear of movement and re-injury.

The key milestones of this phase are achieving 95% on return to sport testing as per the criteria to progress during each phase of rehabilitation, athletes reporting minimal to no discomfort, feeling confident and eager to return to sport that matches their scores with psychological testing, and ensuring an ACL-Injury prevention program is established and adhered to prior to each training session or game.

Phase 5: Prevention of Re-Injury.

This phase forms a significant part of long-term knee health and successful participation in sport and day-to-day activities.

The key components to this phase include plyometric, balance and strengthening exercises, performed for at least 10 minutes prior to a training session or game, which is ongoing and sport-specific. Some popular ACL Injury Prevention Programs include;

The FIFA 11+ Warm Up
The PEP Program
The KNEE Program – Netball Australia
The FootyFirst Program - AFL

Ongoing Support and Monitoring: Even after you have returned to your normal activities and sports, we remain committed to supporting your long-term recovery and injury prevention efforts. We provide ongoing education, guidance, and monitoring to help you maintain optimal knee health, prevent re-injury, and maximise your performance potential.

State-of-the-Art Facilities and Equipment: Our clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge rehabilitation equipment, allowing us to deliver the highest quality of care to our patients. From advanced exercise machines to innovative modalities, we leverage the latest technology to optimise your rehabilitation experience.

Expert Team of Physiotherapists: What truly sets Kinetic apart is our team of expert physiotherapists who are dedicated to excellence in patient care. With years of experience and specialised training in sports rehabilitation, our therapists are passionate about helping you achieve your goals and reach your full potential.

Patient-Centred Approach: Above all, our clinic is committed to a patient-centred approach that prioritises your individual needs, goals, and preferences. We believe in empowering you with the knowledge, tools, and support necessary to take an active role in your recovery and ultimately, regain control of your life.

Recovering from a torn ACL requires patience, dedication, and expert guidance. At Kinetic, we offer a comprehensive and personalised rehabilitation program that addresses the unique needs of each patient, from initial assessment to return to sport and beyond. With our state-of-the-art facilities, experienced team of physiotherapists, and patient-centred approach, we are confident that we can help you achieve a full and successful recovery.

How can Kinetic R+P help?

Taking a detailed history with injury mechanism is crucial in developing suitable rehabilitation strategies.

A thorough physical examination is then performed to ensure suitable recovery and no post-operative complications.

Goals and Expectations are discussed and a management plan is established together.
Current evidence supports a graduated rehabilitation process, which is determined by criteria to progress, rather than a pre-determined timeline

The Melbourne Return to Sport Score (MRSS) is an assessment tool used as a guide and is broken down into 5 phases, with goals and criteria to progress at each stage, as developed by Mick Hughes , Sports Physiotherapist and Randall Cooper, Specialist Physiotherapist in Melbourne.

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