Have you torn your Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)?
A five-week intensive pre-surgical rehabilitation program can significantly improve your knee strength, and the overall outcomes before and after surgery.
Our Sports Physiotherapists offer the best pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation to ensure the best outcome following an ACL injury.
Your ACL rehabilitation includes:
- Pain and swelling reduction
- Improving flexibility
- Strengthening the knee
- Balance training
- Jumping and landing practice
- Return to running
- Sports-specific skills: kicking, change of direction
- Injury prevention: a second ACL injury or a different injury
Do I need surgery?
You and your surgeon should make this complex decision together. A few factors determine it:
- Knee stability: Does your knee give way during daily activities like walking?
- Sports and activities: Surgery is highly recommended if you are hoping to return to sports that require frequent changes of direction like soccer, AFL, or netball.
- Other combined injury: Sometimes an ACL injury may present with a meniscus tear or other ligament tear like the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL). You need surgery to repair these injuries.
Recent studies have shown no significant difference in outcomes between immediate surgery followed by rehab and rehab first with delayed surgery. Rehabilitation can be a primary treatment option.
When can I return to sports after an ACL injury?
The timeframe for returning to sports varies from 9 to 12 months. How well you complete each physical test will determine your return to sports decision. Our physiotherapists who specialises in ACL will conduct a few tests to examine:
- strength imbalances
- jumping and landing asymmetries
Am I at risk of reinjury after an ACL reconstruction?
Returning to sports carries a small increased risk of re-injury to the repaired ACL, affecting both the injured and non-injured legs. However, adhering to your rehab plan can significantly reduce this risk.
Are you interested in learning how other athletes have successfully returned to sports with our help? Check our 5-star Google review to read what our clients have said.
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