The Anterior cruciate Ligament, known as the ACL, is a tough band of tissue joining the thigh bone to the shin bone at the knee joint. It runs diagonally through the inside of the knee and gives the knee joint stability. It also helps to control the back-and-forth movement of the lower leg.

You may need ACL surgery if you experience your knee giving way during day-to-day activities or sporting activities which involves turning and changing direction.

The ACL may also need be repaired if you experience a high level of pain because you have injured the ligament. 

This video is aimed at helping you understand the rehabilitation process so that you can have the best chance at a full recovery.

Why is rehabilitation after surgery important?

Following ACL surgery and a short recovery period, your knee will be well enough for day-to-day activities but not for strenuous activities - such as heavy manual work or sports.

To carry out these types of activities, the muscles around the ACL and the muscles in your leg need to be strengthened through physiotherapy to support the knee joint and the ACL. Having a good support system in your leg helps reduce the risk of reinjury.

How much rehabilitation will I need?

How much rehabilitation you need is really your choice, and it will depend upon how physically active you want to be after your treatment.

You might want to return to walking without your knee giving way. In this situation, your rehabilitation will be relatively short. It will probably involve a few months of exercise therapy under the guidance of physiotherapists to improve your muscle strength, movement and swelling, and then you will be discharged.  

However, if you are more physically active, want to return to sports or manual work, your rehabilitation will take longer and a bit more commitment. Generally, to return safely to heavy physical activity or sports you can expect to spend between 12-15 months following a programme under the guidance of a physiotherapist.

If you return to these kinds of activities without the proper rehabilitation, there is a risk of re-injury.

What if I don’t have time to complete all the recommended rehabilitation?

When you are working with your physiotherapist you may find your circumstances change and you are no longer able to commit to the level you were aiming for, or you may find that you are coping better than you expected. If this is the case, talk it through with your physiotherapist and they can help tailor your exercises to meet your needs.

For example, if you originally wanted to return to heavy manual work or sport and have to reduce your commitment your physiotherapist will advise on the high-risk activities to avoid and how to keep safe. Equally, if you decide that you want to return to heavy manual work or sport having previously not wanted that, then your physiotherapist will advise you about how much longer you can expect to remain in rehabilitation.