GET YOUR ACL REHAB DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AROUND

Returning to high-risk sport following ACL injury, especially without completing a dynamic and comprehensive return to performance program, puts the athlete at a risk of re-injury up to 40x greater than athletes who have never suffered an ACL rupture. Evidence suggests that without the best ACL rehab and continued training following your return to sport, re-injury rates can be as high as 20% within the first few years back to sport.

Social participation in sport across Australia is growing rapidly; especially amongst the new and emerging Women's competitions. This has a trickle down effect at a grass-roots level, with social participation in women's AFL alone increasing by 140% in just two seasons. Poor formal training, preparation and injury resilience is resulting in many more athletes suffering ACL injuries than what existed prior to women's sports participation exploding.

There is clear evidence that a structured, progressive and outcome-driven ACL rehab plan improves athlete outcomes during recovery. While there is no such thing as a 'perfect' rehab, the components of a great rehab include: regular and consistent touch points with your allied health support team (physiotherapists, psychologists, orthopaedic surgeons etc), regular, guided and progressive strength training, return-to-running frameworks that build you up to exceeding game demands and effective and accurate exit-testing to ensure your physiological and psychological markers have returned to pre-injury levels.

There are three primary options for an athlete to consider following an ACL rupture. The first is to approach ACL rehab non-operatively, where the athlete attempts to return to pre-injury levels of strength and stability. This is also called the 'conservative' approach. The second option is surgery, where a graft is taken from your hamstring, patella, quad (or donor), and your ACL is reattached. The third option is the most novel, known as the Bracing protocol. For some athletes, the rupture occurs in such a way where bracing the knee at specific angles may result in the natural re-attachment of the ACL fibres. It's important to consult your managing physiotherapist and physician to discuss what options suit your situation the best.

In the event of a minor ACL strain (what we call a partial rupture), there is a chance your injury may heal with ACL rehab and without surgery. In the event of a full rupture, it is unlikely that your ACL will naturally heal without intervention. For athletes who want to return to high-contact or high-pivot sports, options for surgery and rehab should be considered alongside your physiotherapist and surgeon.

If you experience any of the below, we would always recommend a review by a qualified health professional (like a physiotherapist), for review:

• A loud popping sound during running, change of direction, or a contact episode

• Pain that prevents you from continuing normal activity

• Swelling around the knee joint

• Loss of range of motion

• A feeling of instability around the knee joint.
  
  If any of these symptoms are present, we'd always recommend getting it reviewed by a professional so you can start your ACL rehab right away. Rather be safe, than sorry.

While everyone's timelines will be different following ACL injury and surgery, the typical timeline recommends 9-12 months to return to sport, although this can be shorter or longer — it depends on individual circumstances and dedication to a proper ACL rehab program.