ACL tear? Don’t wait to start rehab A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be devastating for any active person, especially if you need surgery. But here’s a key fact: what you do before surgery

Why the ACL matters

The ACL stabilises your knee during pivoting, cutting, and jumping. Injury usually happens in sport during a sudden change of direction. Without it, your knee feels unstable, and your risk of further damage increases.

Why early rehab is crucial

After injury, swelling, pain, and inactivity can cause your quadriceps to weaken in days. Go into surgery with a weak, stiff knee, and your recovery will be longer and harder.

Prehabilitation can:

• Reduce swelling.
• Restore range of motion.
• Strengthen supporting muscles.
• Improve balance and coordination

Our Wimbledon Physiotherapy ACL Prehab Plan

1. Swelling Control

• Ice, compression, and gentle movement to manage inflammation.

2. Strength Maintenance

• Targeted quad, hamstring, and glute exercises you can do safely before surgery.
• Muscle stimulation if required to help keep the quadriceps strong

3. Mobility Restoration

• Regain full knee extension and as much flexion as possible - critical for surgical success.

4. Neuromuscular Training

• Balance and stability drills to keep your nervous system tuned.

If struggling with swelling and range we can also use our hydrotherapy pool were weight is taken off the limb with buoyancy making knee movement easier and the hydrostatic pressure of the water decreases the swelling

What you can expect

• Most patients achieve full knee extension before surgery - a huge predictor of post-op success.
• Recovery times post-surgery are shorter when strength and mobility are maintained beforehand.

At-home tips

• Ice regularly to try and get your swelling reduced as soon as possible as this will actively switch off your muscles
• Try and walk with as normal walking pattern as possible even if means using elbow crutches

Bottom line: Going into ACL surgery stronger means coming out stronger. Prehab gives you the best possible starting point for recovery.

Book your ACL prehab assessment today and set yourself up for a faster, safer return to sport.