Knee · 6 min
Rehabilitation after an anterior cruciate ligament injury
The goals, progression and criteria that guide recovery after an ACL injury.
Read the insightPhysiotherapy for
Knee
Regaining confidence in your knee takes clear goals and measurable progress, not a standard sequence of exercises.
Understanding the problem
Not only where it hurts.
What it stops you doing matters.
The knee must tolerate different loads during walking, stairs, running and sport. After pain, trauma or surgery, it is normal to lose muscle strength or confidence: rehabilitation needs to make progress visible, rather than rely only on time elapsed.
We monitor symptoms, mobility, strength and movement quality. For athletes, progression gradually approaches the real demands of their sport and is adjusted to how the knee responds.
When it may help
We begin with what
is limiting you.
These examples provide orientation but do not replace an individual healthcare assessment.
- Pain and swelling
- Ligament injury
- Meniscal problems
- Post-operative recovery
Conditions and recovery needs
Physiotherapy may be appropriate for the conditions listed below. Assessment determines whether and how it can help; after trauma or surgery, the pathway follows the medical specialist’s guidance.
- Patellofemoral pain: pain at the front of the knee
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Meniscal injuries and associated functional difficulties
- Recovery after sprains and ligament injuries, including the anterior cruciate ligament
- Stiffness and loss of strength after immobilisation
- Recovery after arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction or knee replacement
How we work
A pathway that changes
with you.
Assessment and testing
Mobility and strength recovery
Movement control
Gradual return to sport
During your assessment
What we look at.
- Pain, swelling and range of movement
- Lower-limb strength and side-to-side differences
- Control in squats, stairs, running or changes of direction
- Surgical guidance and return-to-activity goals
Concrete goals
Where we want to get to.
- Regain measurable mobility and strength
- Manage stairs, walking and work
- Feel more secure in fast movements
- Return to sport using shared criteria
Frequently asked questions
Before you begin,
let’s make it clear.
When can I return to running?
It is not based on the calendar alone. Symptoms, strength, control and response to load help decide when and how to begin.
Do you treat knees after surgery?
Yes. We follow your surgeon’s guidance and adapt the pathway to healing, your knee’s response and your goals.
Does swelling always mean I must stop exercising?
Swelling should be monitored. Depending on the reason and response, load, exercises and recovery may need temporary adjustment.
When to seek urgent medical advice first
Following major trauma, with visible deformity, inability to bear weight, a very hot swollen joint with fever, or sudden loss of strength or sensation, seek prompt advice from a healthcare professional.
The first step