Post-operatively you will spend the night in hospital, with a bandage over your knee and cold compression applied to reduce post operative swelling.  Your pain will be controlled with a combination of local anaesthetic and oral medications.  You will not routinely be in a brace post operatively, but crutches are recommended for the first two weeks to assist with walking.

You will be seen by one of our physiotherapy team in hospital to help with crutches and walking, and to guide your initial rehabilitation.

These are general instructions only, and must be tailored to your individual circumstances.

Phase 1 – Rest and Recovery: the initial 2 weeks are to control pain, swelling and discomfort within the knee.  The leg should be kept elevated to avoid swelling, and it should be kept in extension (straight) rather than bent for prolonged periods. Minimal physiotherapy is undertaken during this period as it is important for the swelling and pain to subside prior to strengthening.

Phase 2 – Range of Motion and Strengthening (Weeks 3-6): work on gait normalisation, range of motion, start gentle exercise bike, swimming with pool buoy once wounds healed.

Phase 3 – Neuromuscular Retraining and Strengthening (Weeks 6-12): start straight line running at 6 weeks, progressive strengthening of quads, from 8 weeks start hamstrings strengthening (NOT before), from 8 weeks stop using a pool buoy

Phase 4 – Advanced Retraining (3-6 Months): commence plyometrics, gentle running proprioception drills from 4 months.

Phase 5 – Sport Specific Retraining (6-9 Months): start sport specific training, no playing

Phase 6 – Resumption of Sports (8-9 Months): ease into sports, use FIFA 11 injury prevention program

Dr Slattery’s Full ACL reconstruction rehabilitation protocol can be found here: ACL-Post Op Protocol