Return to play after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Successful recovery following ACL reconstruction requires a team approach, with equally valuable contributions from the patient, therapist, and surgeon. It follows a logical progression of motion and strengthening activities that maximizes the rate of recovery in a safe fashion. The protocol is segmented into phases, each with tangible goals that need to be successfully achieved before proceeding to the next phase. Although a general timeline is understood, each athlete is treated individually, based on his or her own rate of progress. Athletes are cleared to return to sports after specific objective and functional outcome criteria are met.