Goals for 0-2 weeks

• Mobilise with the aid of crutches including indoors
• Reduce bandage after 24-48 hours
• Pain relief
• Reduce swelling- Icing 4-6 times daily 15 minutes each time
• Regain extension- heel raise and extension stretch, quadriceps bracing exercise
• Regain flexion beyond 90 degrees
• Mobilise patella (Patella tendon graft) and no active hamstring curls (Hamstring graft)

Goals for 2-6 weeks

• Note: The graft does not heal in the tunnels for at least 6-8 weeks
• Wean off crutches
• Regain symmetrical hyper extension- heel raise, prone hangs (compare heel height)
• Regain full flexion by heel slide using a towel (compare heel-buttock distance)
• Mini squats. Bridging exercises
• Proprioceptive exercises and improve joint position sense
• Closed chain exercises- Exercise bike
• No driving for 2-3 weeks for left knee and 4-6 weeks for right knee

6 weeks to 3 months

• Closed chain exercises and straight line activities only
• Gait training, core strength and balance training
• Improve quadriceps and hamstring strength- exercise bike, cross trainer, Lunges, single leg dips
• Low resistance and low weights but more repetition
• Brisk walking, Swimming

3- 6 months

• More intensive strength training
• Open chain exercises allowed
• Start running on a treadmill
• Regain atleast 80% quadriceps and hamstring strength compared to opposite leg Progress to shuttle runs, side stepping, diagonal lunges, figure of eight and zig-zag runs

After 6 months

• Sports specific training
• Plyometric exercises
• Technique training, plyometric exercises, core strength and balance training prevent further ACL injuries
• Return to sport at approximately 8 months