ACL Recovery Timeline for Edmond, OK Parents: What to Expect at Every Stage
If your child just had ACL reconstruction surgery, you probably have one big question:
“How long until they’re back on the field?”
At Next Level Sports Performance & Therapy here in Edmond, we work with student-athletes and their families every week, helping them navigate ACL rehab the right way—based on function, not just time.
Here’s a stage-by-stage breakdown of what you can expect in the months ahead and how you can support your child along the way.
Phase 1: The First Week Post-Surgery (Days 1–7)
Primary goals: Reduce swelling, manage pain, protect the graft, and start gentle mobility.
Tips for parents:
Help with icing and elevation (4–6x daily).
Encourage gentle quad contractions and heel slides if cleared.
Assist with mobility and crutch usage.
🧠 What to know: It’s normal for your child to feel discouraged. Emotional support and rest are just as important as exercises right now.
Phase 2: Weeks 2–6 — Early Rehab & Mobility
Primary goals: Regain knee motion, start weight-bearing, begin activating quad/hamstring.
What you’ll see: Improved range of motion, better walking pattern (still with a brace/crutches).
Parent tips:
Keep consistent with PT visits.
Stay on top of home exercises (2–3x/day).
Look for any signs of infection or unusual pain.
🏆 Milestone: Ditching the crutches and starting to walk more normally—often around weeks 4–6.
Phase 3: Weeks 7–12 — Strengthening and Control
Primary goals: Build muscle strength and improve neuromuscular control.
What you’ll see: Your child starts to look "normal" again walking, but don't be fooled—this is a critical rebuilding stage.
Parent tips:
Don’t push early return to sport.
Celebrate small gains in strength and balance.
Make PT non-negotiable.
⚠️ Mistake to avoid: Skipping PT sessions now because your child "feels fine." This phase builds the foundation for safe sport return.
Phase 4: Months 3–6 — Advanced Strength & Early Plyometrics
Primary goals: Single-leg strength, jumping mechanics, and return-to-run protocols.
What you’ll see: Your child may be cleared to jog or hop in a controlled environment.
Parent tips:
Encourage proper technique over intensity.
Remind your child that just because they can run doesn’t mean they’re game-ready.
Watch for fatigue and favor quality over quantity in training.
🔬 How we help at Next Level: We use strength testing and movement screens to identify deficits other clinics might miss.
Phase 5: Months 6–9 — Return to Sport Testing
Primary goals: Ensure strength symmetry, confidence in movement, and psychological readiness.
What you’ll see: Agility, sprinting, and sport-specific drills return under supervision.
Parent tips:
Ask about objective return-to-sport testing, not just a doctor’s time-based clearance.
Support your athlete emotionally—fear of reinjury is real.
Respect the full process, even if teammates are returning sooner.
✅ Final milestone: Once they pass movement screens, strength symmetry benchmarks, and psychological readiness assessments, your child can be cleared for sport.
How Long Until They’re Back to Play?
Most athletes return around the 9–12 month mark, depending on their commitment to rehab, sport demands, and baseline strength.
But the better question is: Are they truly ready—not just physically, but mentally and mechanically?
At Next Level Sports Performance & Therapy, we help you and your child make confident, safe decisions based on real testing—not just the calendar.
Want expert, sport-specific care for your child’s ACL rehab journey?
👉 Schedule a free discovery call with our Edmond physical therapy team and let’s make a plan that puts your athlete on the safest path back to peak performance.
