Time Frame
Weeks 0 to 4
Goals
Activities
Generalized ACL Reconstruction Return to Play Timeline
• Passive/active ROM from 0° to 90°
• Quadriceps contraction
• Walking without crutches
• Full knee extension
• Knee flexion greater than 110°
• Use of cycle/stair climber without diffi-
culty
• Walking with full knee extension
• Use of stairs foot-over-foot
• Knee flexion within 10°
• Quadriceps strength >50%
• Wall slides
• Patellar mobilizations
• Active superior glide
• Neuromuscular electrical stimula-
tion
• Gait training
• Cycle/stair climber
• Step exercises
• Portal/incision mobilization
• Tibiofemoral mobilization
• Patellofemoral mobilization
Weeks 5-12
• Normal gait pattern
• Full knee ROM
• Maintaining or gaining quadriceps 
strength
• KOS sports subscale >70%
• Progress exercise in intensity and 
duration
• Transfer to fitness facility
• Cross training machines
• Aquatic exercises
• Increase strength to >85% non-in-
volved extremity 
• Advance proprioception exercises
• Improve aerobic endurance 
• Initiate plyometric exercises 
• Clearance to start return to running
• Spin bike
• Pre-running exercises
• Return to running
• Agility drills
• Jump training
• Continue Strengthening
• Full return to sport activity 
• Equal lower extremity strength
• Equal balance, proprioception, power 
• 100% global function rating
• Gradually increase level of partici-
pation in sports-specific activities
• Running on all surfaces
Weeks 12-18
Weeks 20+
Table 1.
27

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