Your Guide to ACL Rehab and Return to Sport

Athlete holding his knee in pain after an ACL injury, representing the need for physical therapy and rehabilitation

ACL Rehab: Getting the Right Treatment Is Crucial for Recovery and Performance

By Jeremy Kertz, PT, DPT at Axes in Creve Coeur, MO on Emerson Rd.

An ACL tear is one of the most feared injuries for any athlete—whether you’re a competitive player or a weekend warrior. But with the right rehabilitation, it doesn’t have to be the end of your athletic journey. In fact, with the right plan in place, you can return to your sport stronger, more stable, and better prepared than ever.

At Axes Physical Therapy, we’ve helped hundreds of athletes across the Greater St. Louis area recover from ACL injuries and get back in the game. Let’s walk through what makes ACL rehabilitation successful—and how we can help you every step of the way.

What Is the ACL and Why Is It So Important?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major stabilizer of your knee joint. It keeps your tibia (shin bone) from sliding too far forward and plays a crucial role in pivoting, cutting, and jumping—movements that are essential in sports like soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, and tennis.

ACL injuries often happen suddenly, through non-contact movements like:

A quick change of direction
Landing awkwardly from a jump
Sudden deceleration or stopping

Whether your injury was traumatic or degenerative, surgical or nonsurgical, rehabilitation is not optional—it’s essential.

Why Proper ACL Rehab Is Critical

Too often, athletes make one of two mistakes:

Rushing back to activity too soon.
Doing a cookie-cutter rehab program that doesn’t account for their unique body or sport.

Both of these can lead to:

Re-injury of the same ACL
Injury to the other knee (yes, that’s common)
Long-term joint instability or pain
Loss of performance level

ACL rehab isn’t about doing exercises—it’s about retraining your body to move safely and explosively again.

What Should an ACL Rehab Program Include?

At Axes, we believe in full-body, sport-specific, and evidence-based care. Here’s what to look for in your recovery plan:

✅ Personalized Progressions

Every athlete’s body, sport, and injury are different. Your program must be built specifically around your:

Surgery date and graft type (if surgical)
Strength imbalances
Sport or activity demands
Goals and return-to-play timeline

✅ Full-Body Biomechanical Assessment

Your rehab should assess not just the knee, but:

Hip strength and stability
Ankle mobility
Core engagement
Functional movement patterns

Everything works together—neglecting one area increases your risk of reinjury.

✅ Cutting-Edge Techniques

At Axes, our therapists use the latest tools and science-backed techniques, including:

Neuromuscular re-education
Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy
Video gait and movement analysis
Return-to-sport testing and milestone tracking

Want to learn more about these techniques? Explore our services like Blood Flow Restriction Therapy and DorsaVi Movement Analysis.

✅ Return-to-Sport Testing

Your discharge from rehab should be based on objective readiness—not just time. Our team conducts:

Strength and balance assessments
Jump and hop testing
Sport-specific movement screens
Fatigue and endurance analysis

We’ll only clear you when your performance meets safety thresholds, reducing your risk of re-tear or secondary injuries.

Common Mistakes Athletes Make in ACL Rehab

It’s not just about what to do—it’s also about what to avoid. These are some of the most common pitfalls:

Skipping rehab altogether: Some patients stop attending PT once the pain is gone—but strength and movement control deficits may still be present.
Overtraining too soon: Returning to practice before passing return-to-sport tests puts enormous stress on healing tissues.
Focusing only on the knee: Rehab must address your entire kinetic chain—especially hips, core, and ankles.

Why Work with a Physical Therapist Who Specializes in ACL Rehab?

Your body, performance, and long-term health deserve a specialist—not a generalist. At Axes, you’ll work with licensed physical therapists like me who understand the nuances of ACL recovery, including:

Surgical vs. nonsurgical care paths
Graft-specific rehab timelines (patellar, hamstring, quad, allografts)
Psychological readiness to return
Communication with orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine teams

Our goal is to provide not just rehabilitation, but performance-driven recovery.

Did you know? At Axes, we maintain direct communication with your orthopedic surgeon to ensure your rehab is fully aligned with your surgical protocol.

Goals of ACL Rehabilitation at Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you’re recovering from surgery or preventing one, here’s what we’ll help you achieve:

Restore joint mobility
Regain full strength and coordination
Retrain safe movement patterns
Prepare for return to practice/play
Prevent future injury

And yes, you can start rehab before surgery to build strength and speed up recovery. Learn about our Pre-Surgical Rehab programs.

Ready to Get Back in the Game?

If you’re searching for ACL rehab in the Greater St. Louis or Eastern Missouri region, Axes Physical Therapy is here for you. With 21 convenient locations, same-week appointments, and sports-specialized therapists, we’re ready to help you: