Stage 3 ACL Rehab

ACL Rehab: Stage 3

Hey, guys. We are on to stage 3 of the ACL Rehab Process. This stage takes place 1 to 3 months after ACL surgery. There are four main objectives in this stage:

1. Get full Range Of Motion (ROM)—130 degrees of bend.
2. Balancing on one leg (aka single leg balance or SL). As you get good at balancing on the floor, you need to progress and show the same control while balancing on a Bosu or a DynaDisc.
3. Full squatting ROM. This is very important because learning the proper technique now will directly translate into jumping later in our ACL Rehab. So get that down now.
4. You need to be able to go up and down stairs in this stage without any pain and without any issues.

Additionally here is a sample protocol from the journal of Current Reviews of Musculoskeletal Medicine and you can find a full article here. As you look through various protocols you will notice some differences such as the division of stages. Some protocols divide into more precise stages that differentiate every few weeks. Other protocols are much more broad and lump multiple months together.  Protocols can also vary slightly in the initial stages by the type of graft you used. Check out our guideline to help you find where you should be in this stage of rehab.

Get working and good luck! :-)