Your ACL Rehab Timeline: What Edmond Athletes Can Expect from Physical Therapy
ACL Injuries: A Tough Break for Athletes
An ACL injury is one of the most frustrating setbacks for athletes—especially those in competitive sports like football, soccer, basketball, or track. Whether you tore your ACL during a hard cut on the field or landed wrong after a jump, you're likely wondering: "How long is recovery going to take—and what will rehab look like?"
If you’re in Edmond, OK, and looking for answers, you're in the right place. At Next Level Sports Performance & Therapy, we guide athletes like you through every step of the ACL rehab process so you can return stronger, faster, and more confident.
Why ACL Physical Therapy Matters
Your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is key to knee stability—especially for sports that involve cutting, pivoting, or jumping. After a tear (and especially after surgery), physical therapy isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Without proper rehab, you risk:
Prolonged recovery
Re-injury
Muscle imbalances
Lack of confidence when returning to sport
That's why working with a therapist who understands sports-specific rehab is critical.
The ACL Rehab Timeline: What to Expect
While every athlete heals at a different pace, here’s a general breakdown of the typical ACL rehab timeline at our Edmond clinic:
🗓️ Phase 1: Early Recovery (Weeks 1–4)
Goals:
Reduce swelling and pain
Regain range of motion
Start gentle strengthening
You’ll start with low-load exercises like heel slides, quad sets, and straight-leg raises. Crutches may be needed early on. We’ll monitor your progress closely and educate you on movement patterns that promote healing.
🗓️ Phase 2: Strength & Stability (Weeks 4–12)
Goals:
Improve weight-bearing
Build quad, hamstring, and glute strength
Improve balance and control
This phase is where we start to rebuild your athletic base. You'll work through bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and stability drills. The focus is on muscle activation, especially around the knee.
🗓️ Phase 3: Advanced Strengthening (Months 3–5)
Goals:
Restore full strength
Begin light jogging
Improve neuromuscular control
Once cleared, you’ll progress to more dynamic movements like lunges, step-ups, and agility drills. This is also when we start to reintroduce light sport-specific tasks, depending on your sport and goals.
🗓️ Phase 4: Return-to-Play Prep (Months 5–8)
Goals:
Restore explosive movement
Rebuild confidence
Simulate sport-specific activities
This is the fun part—where things start to feel like training, not rehab. Expect cutting drills, plyometrics, agility ladders, and sprint mechanics. We’ll guide you through return-to-play testing to ensure you’re safe and ready.
🗓️ Phase 5: Full Return to Sport (Around Month 9)
Goals:
Compete confidently
Prevent future injury
Stay strong year-round
Before you’re fully cleared, we’ll complete movement assessments, strength testing, and psychological readiness screenings. Once you hit all the benchmarks, you’ll be ready to return to your sport with confidence.
Real Recovery. Real Results.
Here’s what one of our Edmond athletes had to say:
“Colton was very helpful and amazing to work with! Extremely knowledgeable about recovery or injury and how to best protect and help his client. When I first began working with him I was unable to run or jump, and by the end of 3 months I’m back to fully healthy and as confident as ever. Would definitely recommend going to him!”
Why Choose Next Level PT in Edmond?
At Next Level Sports Performance & Therapy, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter rehab. We treat Edmond athletes like athletes, not patients—designing ACL recovery plans that are customized, goal-driven, and performance-based.
Here’s what sets us apart:
✅ One-on-one sessions with a licensed PT
✅ Sport-specific training environments
✅ Proven return-to-play testing protocols
✅ Flexible scheduling for student athletes
✅ Real communication with parents and coaches
We’ve helped athletes return to football, track, soccer, and basketball across Edmond—stronger and smarter than before.
Ready to Start Your ACL Rehab?
If you or your athlete is recovering from an ACL injury, let us guide the way.
📍 Next Level Sports Performance & Therapy
820 Irish Ln, Edmond, OK 73003
📞 Call us at (572) 275-0023
🎯 Schedule your free discovery call today: https://calendly.com/nextlevelptok/discoverycall
Get back in the game—faster, safer, and stronger—with expert ACL physical therapy in Edmond.
