ACL & knee surgery rehab
Surgery fixes the structure. Good rehabilitation decides how well you come back.
Whether you injured your knee playing five-a-side, skiing or slipping on the stairs, recovering from knee surgery takes time and a clear plan. We work alongside your surgeon from the early weeks, when the focus is calming the knee and getting it straight, through to strength, confidence and a safe return to the things you love.
You might notice
- Swelling and stiffness after surgery
- Difficulty straightening or bending the knee fully
- Weakness in the thigh muscles
- Lack of confidence on stairs, slopes or uneven ground
- Uncertainty about when it is safe to run or play sport
Common causes
- ACL tears from twisting, landing or changing direction
- Meniscus tears from twisting or wear
- Knee ligament reconstructions and repairs
- Other planned knee operations
How we work on acl & knee surgery rehab.
- 01
Protect and recover
Control swelling, get the knee straight and walking well, following your surgeon's protocol.
- 02
Restore movement and control
Full range of movement and confident single-leg control.
- 03
Rebuild strength and power
Strength and jump testing against your other leg so progress is measured, not guessed.
- 04
Return to sport on criteria
Agility, change of direction and sport-specific drills before you play again.
- Pre-operative strengthening, if you have not had surgery yet
- A staged plan that follows your surgeon's protocol
- Regular strength and movement testing so you can see your progress
- Hands-on treatment to help swelling and stiffness
- A return-to-sport plan based on tests, not just the calendar
Returning to running after ACL reconstruction usually takes a few months, and returning to pivoting sports often takes nine months or more. Every stage is guided by how your knee is doing, not a fixed date.
Elite-level care, on your case.
The people who have looked after Premier League footballers and Premiership rugby players will look after you. Same standards, same attention to detail, whatever brings you in.
Geoff Scott
Founder & Senior Physiotherapist
- 20+ years in elite sport
- Premier League first team
- MSc Sports Medicine
- MBA, injury prevention and modelling in sport
Jason Oliveira
Senior Sports Physiotherapist
- 7+ years at Saracens RFC
- MSc Sports Physiotherapy, University of Bath
- HCPC registered, CSP member
Tunde Adewunmi
Personal Trainer
- 10+ years coaching
- Former professional footballer
- BSc Sports & Exercise Science
Your first appointment.
01
We listen
Your first appointment lasts an hour with a senior physiotherapist. We start by understanding your symptoms, your history, your work and what you want to get back to.
02
We find the cause
A thorough hands-on assessment of how you move, so we treat the cause and not just where it hurts.
03
You leave with a plan
You will understand what is wrong, how long it should take, and exactly what to do next, including treatment and exercises to start straight away.
Good questions.
When should I start rehab after surgery?
Usually within the first week or two, following your surgeon's guidance. Starting early helps control swelling and get the knee moving.
Can I do rehab before surgery?
Yes, and it is a good idea. Getting the knee calm and strong before an operation often makes recovery afterwards smoother.
