This is the number one question I get asked when an athlete comes in following a confirmed ACL injury. And I completely understand why. Whether they choose to have surgery or not, they’re in for a period on the sidelines and they’re desperate to get back on the pitch/field/court/etc.
My answer: “I don’t know.” And it’s true. If I could promise a time frame, I would. But there are so many variables that come into rehabilitation that it’s too hard to call. There’s the nature of their injury, whether they have caused injury to any other structures, their age, their level of commitment to rehabilitation, their other life commitments and also plain luck.
That’s why the BSPC ACL Rehabilitation protocol does not mention time frames at all. We perform assessment tests periodically to work our way through 5 phases, with the end result being a return to sport (if the client would like to). This way the rehab moves at a pace appropriate to where the client is, rather than based on a timeline that isn’t flexible.
Rather than a set return to sport timeframe, what we can promise is that you’ll get a thorough rehabilitation, which will prepare you as best we can to return to your chosen sport or activity when you are ready.
The BSPC ACL Rehabilitation protocol can be found here.
by Nick Rees, Senior Physiotherapist