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THE CHOICE OF ATHLETES FOR ACL REHABILITATION

Are struggling with an ACL injury recovery? Whether you're post-surgery or managing a partial tear, our treatment plans can get you back 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.

Dealing with an ACL injury that’s keeping you off the field or out of the gym? we can help.

ACL injuries can be a devastating blow to your sports and fitness goals. Not only are they incredibly painful, they significantly restrict your stability which stops you from doing the activities you care about.

Luckily, ACL reconstruction surgery is incredibly advanced these days and there’s an overwhelming amount of research for specific rehab to get you back to where you left off (if not even stronger).

The team at Elite HP thrive in helping our athletes return to sport and we’ve helped a long list of people with ACL injuries. We aren’t satisfied until you’re back on the field and feeling strong again!

We deliver tailored chiropractic and physiotherapy care to target the root cause of your knee instability and create a plan that helps you regain strength, movement, and control.

Click ‘Book Now’ to visit our friendly team, or keep reading to learn more about ACL injuries and how we treat them.

About ACL INjuries

What Is An ACL Injury?

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.

How Do ACL Injuries Happen?

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.

How Do I Know If I Have An ACL Tear?

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.

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.

How Do I Heal An ACL Injury?

Unfortunately a torn ACL does not heal itself. Depending on the goals, one will commonly have to undergo knee surgery. ACL Surgery is not always required for instance if the patient does not having specific sporting goals they may be fine with conservative management and rehabilitation.

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.

Helping you regain strength, stability, and confidence on your path to achieve your goals.

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.

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

our 10 step rehabilitation plan for treating your acl injury

  • An initial consult to assess your injury and it’s status.

  • Setting goals & understanding your tailored ACL rehab program

  • Pain and swelling management using hands on soft tissue work and dry needling

  • Restoring range of motion in both knee flexion and extension as well as reestablishing normal gait patterns

  • Building strength in the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and glutes in a safe controlled environment

  • Enhancing proprioception, coordination and balance with a goal of achieving a single leg squat 

  • Maintaining cardiovascular fitness

  • Return to sports preparation with running, jumping mechanics as well as continued strength development that is sport specific

  • Develop maximum speed, multidirectional jumping/running and develop lower limb power

  • Prevention of other injuries and compensations in the ankle and hip

how long will acl rehab take?

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

Physical therapist assisting a person with a knee stretch exercise in a gym setting.

why choose elite health to work on your acl injury?

With combined over 50 years of experience our practitioners have seen it all and know the exact direction we need to take your sports injury to get you the best results that you are looking for.

Our sports physiotherapy team all understand the goals of a sporting demographic as they live and breathe the lifestyle along with you. From basketball, rugby, volleyball and crossfit our team have represented us at Elite levels so we know what makes a high level sports person tick and we know that you need the best results and are itching to get back to being active.

Your recovery is our priority. So book in today, and let’s get you back to what you love doing!

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

  • 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 treat a wide range of ACL-related issues—from fresh injuries to long-term instability and post-surgical recovery. Common conditions we help with include:

    • Partial ACL tears – pain, swelling, and instability during activity

    • Complete ACL ruptures – a full tear often needing surgical repair and rehab

    • Post-operative recovery – rehab after ACL reconstruction to restore strength and motion

    • ACL sprains – stretched but not torn ligament causing mild instability

    • Associated meniscus or cartilage damage – often occurs with ACL tears, leading to joint pain

    • Chronic instability – repeated “giving way” of the knee after past injuries

    • Re-injury or failed rehab – old injuries that didn’t heal properly or keep flaring up

    Whether you’re recovering from surgery or trying to avoid it altogether, our skilled physios can create a personalised plan to rebuild stability, strength, and confidence in your knee.

Book today and let’s help you get back to living your life!

ACL Physio FAQ

  • ACL physiotherapy focuses on restoring strength, stability, and range of motion to the knee after an ACL injury. It includes hands-on treatment, strength exercises, and movement retraining to support healing and reduce the risk of re-injury.

  • Yes, physiotherapy is essential after ACL surgery to regain full function, improve mobility, and rebuild strength. Without proper rehab, you may struggle with long-term stiffness, instability, or weakness.

  • In some cases, partial ACL tears can improve with structured physiotherapy and muscle strengthening. At Elite HP, we assess the severity of your injury and create a non-surgical treatment plan if appropriate.

  • Rehab time varies depending on the injury and your goals. For post-surgery cases, it typically takes 6 to 9 months. Non-surgical rehab for partial tears may be shorter. Your physio will guide you through each stage of recovery.

  • ACL rehab exercises usually include strength work for the quads, hamstrings, and glutes, as well as balance and agility drills. At Elite HP, we personalise your program based on your progress and activity level.

  • You can return to sport once you’ve regained full strength, stability, and movement, usually around 9 months post-surgery. A physiotherapist will test your readiness and help you transition safely.

  • Ongoing pain, swelling, instability, or lack of progress can indicate an issue with your rehab. If this sounds familiar, Elite HP can reassess your condition and create a more effective plan to get you back on track.