23 Sep ACL Rehabilitation
🦿 ACL Rehabilitation: Regain Strength, Stability & Confidence — One Step at a Time
Understanding ACL rehabilitation can feel overwhelming — but you’re not alone.
At Phyxit Physio & Injury Clinic, we specialise in helping patients navigate every phase of their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) recovery with care, clarity, and clinical expertise.
Whether you’ve recently had ACL reconstruction surgery or are managing a conservative, non-operative recovery, our team is here to guide you.
🔍 What is ACL Rehabilitation?
The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is one of the four major ligaments in the knee joint and plays a key role in maintaining knee stability, especially during cutting, pivoting, and rapid directional movements. ACL injuries are common among athletes in sports like football, netball, skiing, and basketball — but they can happen to anyone.
Rehabilitation after an ACL injury or reconstruction isn’t just about healing tissue — it’s a structured, progressive program that focuses on restoring:
- Range of motion (ROM)
- Neuromuscular control
- Quadriceps and hamstring strength
- Proprioception and joint position sense
- Gait retraining and load tolerance
- Confidence in functional movements
- Return-to-sport readiness
🗓️ Our ACL Rehab Program: Tailored to You
At Phyxit, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter rehab protocols. We design your program based on your injury, surgery (if applicable), sport, goals, and timeline — always in collaboration with your surgeon (if you’re post-op).
Here’s a high-level look at the stages we guide you through:
🟢 Phase 1: Acute Post-Injury or Post-Op (0–2 weeks)
- Reduce swelling and inflammation
- Restore knee extension
- Begin quadriceps activation
- Initiate non-weight-bearing exercises, e.g., isometric contractions
- Gentle patella mobilisations
- Education on bracing and crutch use (if needed)
🟡 Phase 2: Early Strength & ROM (2–6 weeks)
- Restore full knee flexion and extension
- Begin closed kinetic chain exercises (e.g. mini squats, leg press)
- Focus on muscle control, particularly VMO
- Start stationary bike or hydrotherapy
- Address gait deviations
🟠 Phase 3: Strength & Neuromuscular Control (6–12 weeks)
- Progress resistance training: lunges, step-ups, hamstring curls
- Introduce balance and proprioception drills
- Core and pelvic stability exercises
- Monitor swelling and pain responses
- Begin low-impact agility training
🔵 Phase 4: Running & Agility (3–6 months)
- Return to running (based on strength, control, and hop testing)
- Introduce plyometrics, directional changes, and single-leg landing mechanics
- Build confidence in high-velocity movements
- Functional testing (Y-Balance, hop tests)
🟣 Phase 5: Return to Sport (6–12 months)
- Sport-specific drills and reactive agility
- Meet return-to-play criteria: ≥90% limb symmetry index (LSI) in strength & hop testing
- Psychological readiness assessments (e.g. ACL-RSI)
- Injury prevention strategies (e.g. FIFA 11+ or Netball KNEE program)
- Final clearance in collaboration with your orthopedic surgeon or sports physician
❤️ It’s More Than Just Physical
We understand the emotional toll of an ACL injury. It can feel like a setback — physically, mentally, and socially. That’s why our clinicians not only focus on your physical recovery, but also your mental resilience and confidence.
Many patients feel fear about reinjury or doubt their ability to return to sport — that’s normal. We’re here to listen, encourage, and guide you, every single step of the way.
🧠 Why Choose Phyxit for ACL Rehabilitation?
✔ Extensive Sports Injury Experience – We’ve rehabbed hundreds of ACL injuries, from grassroots players to elite athletes.
✔ Evidence-Based Practice – We align with the latest orthopaedic and physiotherapy research.
✔ Individualised Programs – Built around your sport, body, and goals.
✔ Return-to-Play Testing – Objective strength and function measures to guide safe return.
✔ On-site gym & rehab space – All under one roof.
✅ Take the First Step Towards a Stronger Comeback
ACL rehabilitation is a long journey — but with the right team, it’s a journey forward.
📞 Ready to get started or need a second opinion?
Call us today at (02) 4228 9299 or book your ACL consult online.
💬 How Far Along Are You in Your ACL Journey?
We’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re just starting out or nearing return to sport, feel free to share your experience below — and let others know they’re not alone.
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