[hlnx1]

After ACL reconstruction, “when can I play again?” is the big question. The mainstream answer has shifted from a fixed date to a combination of time and passing specific tests.

What the evidence broadly suggests:

• Returning to pivoting sport earlier than about 9 months after surgery is associated with higher re-injury risk
• Strength matters: many clinicians aim for the operated leg’s quadriceps and hamstring strength to be at least around 90% of the other side
• Hop tests, movement quality and sport-specific drills are part of the picture
• Psychological readiness and fear of re-injury affect whether people return and how they perform

Detailed article: return-to-play science and an example: Alexia Putellas and ACL return to play.

For those who have been through it, which part of rehab felt hardest?

[hlnx1]

A common mistake: feeling great at 5-6 months, running and jumping freely, and assuming the knee is ready. The graft and the muscles around it are still adapting, and strength deficits are often bigger than people realise until they are tested.

Ask your physiotherapist to measure strength, not just look at how the knee moves.

[Author]

Posts