Video: 5 Important Exercises to Do After ACL Surgery

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Are you recovering from ACL surgery and wondering what exercises you can do to aid in your recovery? This video will cover the early stages of recovery, explain what factors are important during this stage, and outline key exercises you can do every day to aid in your recovery.

During the early stages of recovery after anterior cruciate ligament surgery, the main goals are to achieve full range of motion and regain neuromuscular control of the knee.^[1] To achieve these goals, it is essential to manage pain, swelling, and inflammation of the knee to ensure that you can complete your rehabilitation exercises. Using ice, applying compression, elevating your foot, and doing ankle pumps are great ways to manage pain, swelling, and inflammation.

While achieving both flexion and extension range of motion is important for activities of daily living, achieving full knee extension is emphasized for people recovering from ACL surgery.^[1] Knee extension is especially important in the early stages of recovery, as numerous studies have shown that loss of full knee extension can be a predictor of postoperative complications and poor outcomes.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] Therefore, exercises to increase knee range of motion are especially important during the early phase of ACL recovery.

Achieving neuromuscular control of the knee is another important goal after ACL surgery. Neuromuscular control of the knee refers to the coordination of your brain, nerves, and muscles to create movement and stability.^[6] Regaining neuromuscular control is essential to not only ensure proper movement and function, but also to prevent further injury to your knee.^[6] Some ways to regain neuromuscular control of the knee include strengthening the supporting muscles around the knee and doing balance exercises.^[1]

During the early recovery phase following ACL surgery, exercises that focus on knee flexion, knee extension, knee muscle strengthening, and proprioception are recommended for the first 4 weeks following surgery. Five safe and effective exercises that you can do daily to help you recover functionally include quadriceps and hamstring co-contractions, heel glides, knee extension over a roller, straight leg raises, and chair assisted squats. Click on this link for a more detailed description of these exercises. Keep in mind that everyone recovers at their own pace, so your ability to perform these exercises may vary depending on your condition. Consult with your healthcare provider to ensure that these exercises are safe for you.

Listen to Joey Wong, kinesiologist, explain the key exercises to focus on after ACL surgery, and learn about ACL recovery goals.

The Curovate Physical Therapy App has detailed videos and descriptions of these 5 essential exercises, as well as many other important exercises for your recovery. Click on one of the download links below to get started on your ACL recovery today! Curovate is an evidence-based app that provides guided physical therapy plans, daily guided video exercises, ways to measure and monitor your progress, and measures your knee range of motion! Download the Curovate App by clicking on the links below.

If you require further, tailored assistance during your ACL recovery, you can book a 1-on-1 video session with a physiotherapist on our Virtual Physiotherapy page.