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THE CHOICE OF ATHLETES FOR ACL REHABILITATION

Dealing with an ACL injury or recovering post-surgery? Our tailored treatment plans help you regain strength and return to peak performance.

Two women in athletic attire, one seated and smiling, the other standing and handing over a foam roller in a gym or fitness setting with wooden paneling in the background.

ACL injury holding you back? We can help.

ACL injuries, partial tears, or full ruptures, can derail your training, sport, or daily routine. They’re painful and weaken knee stability, moving feel unsafe and unsteady.

The good news? ACL reconstruction surgery is now highly advanced, and with the right rehab plan, many people return to their previous level of performance, or better.

At Elite HP, we’ve helped hundreds through every stage of ACL rehab from early recovery to return to sport. Our team delivers tailored care to restore strength, movement, and control in your affected leg.

Whether you're post-op, managing a non-surgical tear, or just starting your recovery, we’ll help you address the root cause, not just the symptoms, and get you back to the activities you care about.

Book your appointment below to meet our friendly team, or keep reading to learn more about ACL injuries and how we treat them.

What causes ACL injuries?

ACL injuries are a frequent concern, especially in active individuals, and can happen suddenly or build up over time. Common causes include sudden changes in direction, awkward landings, direct impact, or muscle imbalances.

    • A popping sound at the time of injury

    • Pain and swelling in the knee

    • Instability or the feeling of the knee giving way

    • Limited range of motion or difficulty bearing weight

    • Discomfort in the affected leg

  • ACL injuries can result from a range of activities or movements that place too much stress on the knee. Some of the most common causes include:

    • Sudden stops or changes in direction

    • Incorrect landing during sports

    • Direct impact to the knee

    • Muscle imbalances or weakness

    • Overtraining or lack of recovery

    • Poor movement mechanics

    • Previous knee injuries or joint instability

  • We commonly treat a range of ACL injuries, including:

    • Partial ACL tears – causing pain and instability

    • Complete ACL ruptures – often requiring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

    • Post-surgical recovery – especially following an ACL graft procedure

    • ACL sprains – stretched but intact ligament

    • Ongoing instability – repeated giving way or weakness in the knee

A trainer assisting a person during a workout at a gym, focusing on leg positioning or stretching. Dumbbells in the background.

Back to Movement, Back on Track

ACL injuries can feel like a major setback, but with the right rehab, they don’t have to be. At Elite HP, we’ve supported everyone from weekend warriors to high-performance athletes through successful ACL recovery.

Our Brisbane physiotherapists have extensive experience in sports injury rehab, both here in Queensland and internationally. Whether you're recovering from surgery or avoiding it altogether, we tailor your rehab to your goals, so you can get back to sport, work, or simply moving with confidence.

We stand by the quality of our care. If you don’t feel your first session met expectations, we’ll refund your appointment, no fuss.

Don’t leave your recovery to chance. Book in today and start your path back to full strength.

HOW DOES ACL REHABILITATION WORK?

At Elite HP, our ACL rehab plan follows a proven step-by-step process designed to restore function, reduce pain, and get you back to doing what you love, whether you’ve had surgery or not. We combine hands-on techniques, tailored exercises, and education to support each stage of your recovery journey. Our treatment approach includes:

  • Initial Assessment & Goal Setting

    Your rehab starts with a detailed consult to assess your ACL injury, set clear recovery goals, and build your tailored rehabilitation program.

  • Pain Relief & Gentle Mobilisation

    We manage swelling and discomfort through soft tissue techniques, dry needling, and early-stage gentle exercise to get you moving safely.

  • Strength, Balance, Control & Coordination

    Build strength in the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves while improving balance, coordination, and control, all key for knee stability.

  • Return to Sport & Injury Prevention

    Once strength and movement return, we shift focus to sport-specific drills, plyometrics, and injury prevention strategies to reduce the risk of injury.

100% Satisfaction guarantee.

Our experienced remedial massage therapists in Brisbane specialise in relieving muscle tightness, soft tissue injuries, and chronic pain. Every massage is tailored to your body and goals, no cookie-cutter treatments here.

With a background in supporting athletes, busy professionals, and those recovering from injury, our team focuses on treating the source of your discomfort, not just the symptoms, to help you move and feel better, faster.

We back our work 100%. If you're not completely satisfied after your first session, we’ll refund the full cost of your appointment.

Feel the difference with a results-focused remedial massage. Book your session with our Brisbane team today.

Why choose elite health for ACL Injury Rehabilitation?

  • Pain-free living, not endless appointments.

    We want you living pain-free, without needing to come back every week. Our focus is on finding and fixing the root cause properly, whether it’s an ACL rupture or post-surgery recovery, not just giving temporary relief.

  • Immediate relief from your first session.

    Whilst most clinics use the first 1–2 appointments for discussions, we help you right away. After a brief assessment, our physical therapist will begin treatment to support ACL healing and get you moving better from day one.

  • Physio, chiro, needling and more under one roof.

    No need to visit multiple clinics — we’ve got everything you need to feel better, faster. Access physio, chiro, massage, dry needling, rehab, and more to support your full rehabilitation process and restore knee stability.

Book Chiro Appointment

Want to get back into the action?

Our goal is to get you back on the court, field or gym without constantly having to worry if you’re going to make your knee injury worse. Our specialists have treated many ACL injuries and we’d love to help you too.

ACL Physio FAQ

  • The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the knee joint. It is one of the major ligaments in our knees.

    It provides stability by preventing excessive forward movement of the shin bone (tibia), and controlling internal rotational forces. A torn ACL is one of the most common knee injuries requiring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or targeted rehab.

  • Phase 1: Acute Phase (Week 0-4)

    • Reduce pain and swelling

    • Restore range of motion – getting knee straight

    • Regain quadriceps muscles control.

    Phase 2: Basic Strength Training & Neuromuscular Control (Weeks 5-8)

    • Full range of motion

    • Improve muscles strength

    • Normal walking gait

    • Enhance balance and proprioception

    • Light functional activities

    Phase 3: Full strength (Weeks 9-12)

    • Close to maximum (1RM) muscle strength

    • Good single leg stability and strength

    • Coordination and landing training

    • Light run/ jog

    Phase 4: Preparation For Sport (Week 13-16)

    • Similar total leg strength

    • Normal running

    • Sport-specific training – jumping, pivoting, stepping

    • Focus on advance agility & plyometric

    Phase 5: Return To Sport (Weeks 17 and beyond)

    • Return to full activity and sports participation

  • Unfortunately, a torn ACL does not heal itself. Depending on your goals, you may need anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.

    However, not everyone requires surgery; some may do well with conservative management. Whether surgical or non-surgical, ACL healing requires a dedicated and structured rehabilitation process.

    Whether you have undergone surgery or opted for non-surgical treatment, our comprehensive ACL recovery program is designed to have you feeling like yourself again, stronger, more confident, and with strategies to prevent future injury.

    Want to get back into the action? Our goal is to get you back on the court, field or gym without constantly having to worry if you’re going to make your knee injury worse. We focus on smart injury prevention strategies alongside recovery. Our specialists have treated many ACL injuries and we’d love to help you too.

  • An ACL tear typically occurs during activities that involve sudden stop, changes in direction, quick pivoting motions. The injury commonly happens when the knee is forcefully twisted or bent inward with the foot planted on the ground.

    This can occur during sports like soccer, basketball, skiing, or even during accidents such as falls or collisions. In many cases, an ACL graft is used during surgical ACL repair to restore knee function.

  • If you have an ACL tear you may hear a popping sound at the time of injury, followed by immediate knee pain and possible swelling in the knee joint.

    Your knee function may feel unstable or give way, making it difficult to put weight on it. This is especially noticeable in the affected leg.

    After the injury you’ll also have loss of range and daily activities may be impacted due to pain and instability (e.g exercise, walking, climbing, exiting cars).

    The best way to confirm an ACL tear is with an MRI. This confirms the diagnosis and can also identify any other tissues that may have been damaged during the injury.

  • Yes, Physiotherapy is essential after surgery to regain full function, improve mobility, and rebuild strength.

    Without proper physical therapy, you may struggle with long-term stiffness, instability, or weakness.

  • In some cases, partial ACL tears can improve with structured rehab and targeted strengthening. Gentle exercise and progressive loading are used to stabilise the joint.

    At Elite HP, we assess the severity of your injury and create a non-surgical plan if appropriate.

  • Rehab time varies depending on the injury and your goals. For post-surgical cases, it typically takes 6 to 9 months. Non-surgical rehab for partial tears may be shorter.

    Your physiotherapist will guide you through each stage using personalised rehabilitation exercises.

  • ACL rehab exercises usually include strength work for the quads, hamstrings, and glutes, as well as balance and agility drills.

    We also incorporate gentle exercise in the early stages to support recovery. Your program is tailored based on your needs and progress.

  • You can return to sport once you’ve regained full strength, stability, and control, typically around 9 months post-surgery.

    A physiotherapist will assess your movement and guide you through the final stage of your ACL rehabilitation journey to ensure a safe return.

  • Ongoing pain, swelling, instability, or lack of progress can indicate an issue with your recovery.

    If left unchecked, it may increase the risk of re-injury or long-term complications, even a total knee replacement in severe cases. We can reassess and adjust your plan to get you back on track.