Patient education › Rehab after surgery
Rehab after ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair
This is the rehab schedule for people who have had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or meniscus repair. In both operations it takes time for the new ligament or the sutured meniscus to heal firmly, so the brace angle and the amount of weight on the leg are increased a little each week.
Exercise often, as much as you can!
Week-by-week at a glance
If the table is wider than the screen, swipe sideways to see it.
| Feature | Week 1Days 0–7 | Week 2Days 7–14 | Week 3Days 14–21 | Week 4Days 21–28 | Week 5Days 28–35 | Week 6Days 35–42 | Week 7Days 42–49 | Week 8Days 49–56 | Week 9Days 56–63 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brace angle | 0–30° | 0–45° | 0–60° | 0–75° | 0–90° | 0–105° | 0–120° | 0–135° | Brace removed |
| Weight bearing | Toe touch | 25% of body weight | 50% of body weight | 75% of body weight | Full weight bearing | ||||
| Crutches | Two crutches | One crutch | No crutches | ||||||
How to read the table
- Brace angle
- This is the range in which the brace lets the knee bend. 0–30° means you can bend from fully straight up to 30 degrees, and it increases by 15 degrees each week.
- Toe touch
- The operated leg only lightly touches the floor with the toes to keep balance, and almost no weight is put on it.
- 25%, 50%, 75% of body weight
- The proportion of your body weight placed on the operated leg. It is easy to get the feel by placing the operated foot on a bathroom scale and pressing down. For example, if you weigh 60 kg, 25% is 15 kg.
- Crutches
- Use two crutches up to week 7 and one in week 8, and walk without crutches from week 9.
Exercises by stage
Early stage
0–8 weeks after surgery
- Knee extensionWith a pillow under the ankle, place both hands on the knee and press down gently to straighten it.
- Leg raiseLying down, lift the operated leg straight, pull the toes toward you, and hold for 10 seconds.
- Bend and straightenBend and straighten the knee within the brace angle, focusing on recovering the range of motion.
- Heel raiseSeated on a chair, lift the heels.
The goals of this stage are to straighten the knee fully and not to lose thigh muscle.
Middle stage
8–12 weeks after surgery
- Starting machine exercisesStart a stationary bike, leg curl and squat machine with light weights.
- Single-leg standOn level ground, spread your arms and stand on the operated leg to hold your balance.
- Wall squatSquat with your back against the wall. Control the way down slowly, and come up quickly.
This is the period for regaining strength and balance. If pain or swelling gets worse, lower the intensity.
Late stage
After 12 weeks
- Strength machine exercisesDo leg press, leg extension and leg curl at a weight you can manage, and increase the weight once every 2 weeks.
- Single-leg stand on a trampolineBuild balance by standing on one leg on an unstable surface.
- Brisk walkingWalk briskly on a treadmill.
- JoggingPossible from 6 months after surgery.
The timing of return to sports is decided together through strength testing and an examination.
Contact the hospital right away if:
- You have a fever of 38 °C or higher, or pus or discharge comes from the wound
- Your calf is swollen and painful to the touch, or you are short of breath with tightness in the chest
- Your knee suddenly swells a lot, or the angle you could move before suddenly cannot be reached
- Your leg feels numb or the sensation is dulled
This schedule is the standard guidance I give to patients I have operated on. It can differ with the surgical method, the shape of the meniscus tear and any other injuries, so please give priority to the instructions of the doctor at the hospital where you had surgery.