Physical Therapy For ACL Tears

Have you experienced a knee injury that turned out to be an ACL tear?

You’re not alone.

ACL tears are among the most common knee injuries, affecting both athletes and non-athletes alike.

In the U.S., roughly 200,000 cases are diagnosed each year.

These injuries can result from awkward movements, sudden stops or pivots, sharp turns, or high-impact landings — and they don’t always involve direct contact.

While surgery may be necessary in some cases, physical therapy plays a critical role in both prevention and recovery.

In fact, sticking to a guided recovery plan may reduce your need for surgical intervention altogether.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at:

• What an ACL tear is and how it happens
• How to recognize the signs and symptoms
• What diagnosis and treatment options are available
• And how physical therapy can support your recovery — before or after surgery

Let’s dive into what you need to know about ACL injuries, and how to get back on your feet safely.

What Is An ACL Tear?

ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament.

The ACL is a strong band of tissue that connects your thigh bone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia) at the knee joint.

An ACL tear is a common sports injury.

However, contact trauma isn’t always a factor.

According to Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center, approximately 70% of ACL tears occur without contact.

This injury can occur any time you put pressure on the knee joint.

Examples include:

• Sudden stops and changes in direction
• Jumping and landing
• Hitting the knee directly
• Stretching your knee past its range of motion
• Suddenly shifting weight between legs

Additionally, Johns Hopkins Medicine indicates that ACL tears are more common in girls and women.

What Does An ACL Injury Feel Like?

Many people with an ACL injury report hearing or feeling a “popping” sensation in their knee.

You may also feel a sharp, intense pain in the same area.

Additionally, inflammation is a common occurrence.

This injury can make you feel physically unstable and incapable of supporting your own weight when you walk.

You are also likely to lose your range of motion.

If you have any of the signs and symptoms of an ACL tear, it’s a good idea to seek immediate care.

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How Is An ACL Tear Diagnosed?

A physical therapist will help you evaluate the severity of your injury and begin proper treatment.

Your physical therapist will go over the signs and symptoms common with an ACL tear.

They might also perform gentle “hands on” tests to determine if you have an ACL tear or another type of knee injury, like a meniscus tear.

If you go to an orthopedic surgeon for diagnosis they may perform further tests, such as an MRI.

How Can Physical Therapy Help With ACL Tears?

Our website provides lots of great tips for concerns ranging from pain management to loss of mobility.

But how can coming into our clinic and consulting with a physical therapist help with your unique situation?

Physical therapy can help with ACL injury management as well as injury prevention and physical improvement.

Your physical therapist will conduct an injury consultation and potentially make an ACL tear diagnosis.

We can also walk you through your treatment options and help you determine whether you might need surgery.

If you don’t need surgery, your physical therapist will help you regain your muscle strength, balance, and flexibility.

Other treatments may include electrical stimulation to your quadriceps to further reduce pressure to the knee.

Physical therapy may require you to modify your physical activity to reduce stress on your knee to help recovery.

The main goal of physical therapy is to help get you back to living your life as soon as possible.

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1. Weight Bearing Exercises

You will generally go home the same day after having surgery on your ACL.

Your doctor will likely fit you for a splint or knee brace to help support your knee during recovery.

You will have to use crutches to walk for a certain period of time to avoid putting too much weight on your leg.

The length of time that you will need to use crutches depends on the type of surgery you have and the extent of the damage.

About two to three weeks after your surgery, you will be able to put weight on your knee again.

Physical therapy can help slowly guide you toward being able to bear your full weight after your injury.

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2. Ice, Compression, And Bracing

Inflammation reduction is a crucial component of surgical aftercare.

A good method to keep in mind is “RICE.”, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Your physical therapist may recommend controlling your swelling with a cold application, such as an ice sleeve.

You may also receive a brace to limit your knee’s mobility as you recover.

However, keep in mind that wearing a knee brace doesn’t fully prevent an ACL injury or reduce the risk of it happening again.

But it’s still a good idea to limit the movement in your knee until you’ve recovered enough to go back to your daily activities.

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3. Exercises To Rebuild Movement

The first step on your road to recovery is to slowly get your knee moving again.

Following surgery, your physical therapist will start you on a regime of gentle exercises that you can even do at home or online.

These early movement exercises focus on helping you increase blood flow in your knee, which also helps reduce swelling.

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4. Strengthening Exercises

Once you regain movement in your knee and increase your ability to put weight on it, it’s time to add strengthening exercises.

Exercises will focus on building strength in your thigh muscles (the quadriceps and hamstrings) for overall balance in leg strength.

Your physical therapist might recommend that you stick to a specific range of motion to protect your ACL.

On top of strengthening your thigh muscles, it’s also important to target your core, such as your hips, pelvic floor, and lower abdomen.

This will help strengthen your posture and avoid moving the knee inward during exercise.

As the weeks go by, your physical therapist will gradually increase the intensity of your exercises.

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5. Balance Exercises

Physical therapy balance exercises will show you how to rebuild your ability to stay upright, and to shift your weight on your surgery leg.

The progression of these activities will eventually allow you to stand on your surgery leg on firm and unsteady surfaces.

The road to recovery is gradual and you can expect physical therapy after ACL surgery to last between two to six months.

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6. Exercises To Return You To Your Sport

The end goal of physical therapy for ACL tears is to re-establish your strength and get you back to your athletic activities.

As your strength and balance come back, it’s advisable to focus your training on proper technique and knee position.

We recommend you pay special attention to your technique when making pivoting or cutting movements.

At this stage, athletes can begin running, jumping, hopping, cyling, and other exercises that are specific to their sport.

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7. Preparing For Surgery

It can be scary to find out that you need surgery.

At Capitol Physical Therapy, we’re here to help with your surgery recovery.

If you need surgery, your physical therapist can help you manage your pain levels and other symptoms prior to surgery.

We can work on improving your range of motion, strengthen the muscles around your knee, and reduce swelling.

Following your surgery, your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist will work together to create a treatment program.

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Can An ACL Tear Heal Without Surgery?

ACL damage can include both partial and complete tears.

A mild injury may stretch your ACL but leave it intact.

Some types of mild ACL injuries may recover without surgery.

Your chances of avoiding surgery are better if you’ve only experienced an ACL injury without episodes of your knee “giving out” after the injury.

Treatment depends on the severity of your ACL injury and may include rest and rehabilitation exercises.

Other potential treatments may include balance training, developing muscle strength, and electrical stimulation to restore thigh muscle strength.

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Book Your Appointment With Our Physical Therapy Clinic Today

An ACL tear can feel like a major setback — but with the right care, a strong recovery is absolutely possible.

Physical therapy plays a critical role in reducing pain, restoring strength, and helping you safely return to your daily activities or sport.

Whether you’re trying to avoid surgery, preparing for it, or rebuilding after a procedure, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

At Capitol Physical Therapy, we’ll create a personalized recovery plan designed around your goals and your lifestyle.

Book your appointment with Capitol Physical Therapy today and take the next step toward moving with confidence again.