At 9 to 12 months out of ACL reconstruction surgery athletes begin to plan their return to competition. The preceding 9 months of post operative ACL Physical Therapy has re established mobility, strength, biomechanics, power, and endurance. The 8 and 9th months also allow a gradual return to full practice including scrimmages. Post operative return to sport testing identified which athletes have met return to sport criteria and which final impairments still require targeted interventions. Examples include quadricep strength, thigh muscle size, power, and deceleration.
The final two steps of the ACL recovery include a return to competition and a return of full performance. These last two stages occur after the 9 month time point. Athletes should view this return as a dimmer switch and not a light switch. We are not returning an athlete to full competition and a full volume of play including practices, strength and conditioning, and full competitions with a flick of the switch. Instead this return should be gradual and planned incorporating all components of volume including frequency, duration, intensity, and minutes played per competition. Taking into account the athlete’s performance and recovery from each training session and competition.
Athletes are encouraged to continue to work with their Physical Therapist on the plan for both return to competition and return to performance. Continuing their Physical Therapy can both improve sports performance and reduce future injury risk.
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