ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT(ACL)
REHABILITATION PROGRAM
An ACL injury, short for Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury, is a common sports injury that affects the knee joint. The ACL is one of the four major ligaments in the knee, and it plays a crucial role in maintaining stability and controlling the forward-backward and twisting motion of the knee. This ligament runs diagonally in the centre of the knee, connecting the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone).
ACL injuries often occur during sports activities or physical trauma when the knee experiences sudden, forceful movements like twisting, pivoting, or abrupt stops. The injury can range in severity, from mild strains to complete tears, with the latter being more common.
Completing a full ACL rehabilitation is a crucial aspect of managing ACL injuries to ensure a return to normal activity and sports performance!
AN ACL REHAB PROGRAM
An ACL Rehab Program is a structured and comprehensive plan aimed at helping individuals recover from ACL injuries or surgeries. The program should focus on restoring strength, stability, and functionality to the knee joint while minimising the risk of re-injury.
IT SHOULD INCLUDE:
Assessment: The program begins with a thorough evaluation by a sports physiotherapist to determine the extent of the injury and the individual's specific needs.
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Prehabilitation (Prehab): In some cases, individuals may undergo prehab exercises before surgery to strengthen the muscles around the knee, making post-surgery rehabilitation more effective.
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Range of Motion: Initially, the program focuses on regaining normal range of motion in the knee joint through gentle exercises and stretches.
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Strength Training: Progressive strength exercises target the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles to provide support and stability for the knee. Exercises may include leg presses, squats, and resistance band work.
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Neuromuscular Control: Balance and proprioception exercises help improve coordination and control of the knee, reducing the risk of future injuries.
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Cardiovascular Conditioning: Maintaining cardiovascular fitness through activities like stationary biking or swimming is essential during recovery.
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Plyometrics and Agility Training: As the knee strengthens, more advanced exercises like jumping and agility drills are introduced to prepare for a return to sports or high-impact activities.
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Sports-Specific Training: For athletes, the program may include drills specific to their sport to ensure a safe and effective return to play.
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Gradual Return to Activity: The program includes a structured return-to-sport protocol, considering factors like strength, flexibility, and functional performance.
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Education: Throughout the process, patients receive education about injury prevention, proper techniques, and ongoing maintenance to support knee health.
ACL REHAB @ REHAB ADVANTAGE
We provide the optimal ACL rehab program. Our model is designed for the best possible outcomes in an environment where you have 24/7 support and supervision.
OUR PROGRAM INCLUDES:
Injury Diagnosis & Management
Access to a comprehensive Initial Injury Assessment, having a clear and accurate injury diagnosis with a prompt pathway to investigations & specialist referral if needed.
Detailed Rehab Plans & Programs
Following your diagnosis, be provided with a clear and detailed rehab plan. Access to rehab programs with daily guidance on your gym, field and training.
Access to Coached Rehab Sessions
Unlimited access to coached gym & field based rehab sessions.
Support by your rehab professional
Full support by your lead rehab physiotherapist, with multiple touch-points each week.
Unlimited Access to a Rehab Facility
Full access to a rehab gym facility with all of the training, testing and recovery equipment you need.
Surrounded by a Community
Rehab your injury surrounded by a community of others who are going through a similar journey.
FAQs
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What is the purpose of injury rehabilitation?With time, it is true that most sports injuries will settle and heal. However the body is not very good at restoring an injured area back to ‘normal’ particularly getting back full strength & power. This often means that other issues occur or worse still, you reinjure the same thing. The purpose of injury rehabilitation is to not only speed up the recovery process, but also ensure that all aspects of the injured area return back to ‘normal’. Or better still, stronger and more resilient than before the injury.
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What are the important steps to consider in the rehabilitation of sports injuries?Sports injury rehabilitation can be broken down into 6 key steps or stages. Tissue Repair - This is when we need to protect the injured tissue and make sure it heals optimally. Reloading - returning to normal functional movement patterns with the restoration of full range of motion and function. Rebuilding - in this step we look to build the injured area back up in strength & power . Returning to Run Return to Training - guided staged return to training or sport and fitness activities starting with controlled skills, progressing to full sports training. Return to Sport - Full functional recovery, returning fully to participate in sport or unrestricted fitness activities. Resilience & Injury Prevention - the ongoing injury prevention training to make sure you maintain your strength and continue to be resilient to sporting injury.
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What does a Sports Physiotherapist do?Sports Physiotherapists are specialists in sports injury management. This includes the diagnosis of the injury and the best management and rehabilitation plan to get you back to doing what you love. Sports Physiotherapists do everything from hands-on on treatment (massage, joint mobilisations & dry needling) to gym and field based exercise programming and coaching. The team of sports physiotherapists are specialists in sport injury management and rehabilitation and we are designed to provide you with everything you need to recover from your sports injury with the best possible outcome.
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Why do elite athletes return from a sports injury so quickly & look so good when they are back playing?Elite athletes have access to all of the resources they need to recover, which is why they get back quickly and are able to return to sport competing at such a high level. This includes: Seeing their sports physiotherapist often - regular treatment and ‘touch-points’ to check in progress and monitor them A detailed rehabilitation plan that minimises their deconditioning, is sports specific and is targeted to fixing the injury. Access to coaching and support - they complete their rehab with their physio and team, surrounded and supported. Access to all of the rehabilitation machines and technology to assist them in their recovery (e.g. Blood Flow Restriction (BFR), Compex, GameReady). Our long-term rehabilitation program is modelled off this, designed to give you access to these same resources to ensure you can also access this when you are rehabilitating your sports injury.
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Why is it necessary to have some understanding about the rehabilitation of injuries?Understanding what you have injured (aka getting an accurate diagnosis of your injury) and being provided with an injury rehabilitation plan is vital to your recovery. Injury rehabilitation can be a long process (12 months for ACL injuries). It is a difficult journey to do on your own, so it is really important to find sport and rehabilitation professionals to help guide your recovery. This is the best path to optimal short and long-term outcomes following a sports injury.
