ACL Reconstruction — All Soft Tissue Graft (Adult)

UW Health Sports Medicine · UW Health Sports Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Physician Group

Weight-Bearing

PWB with crutches progressing to WBAT; FWB by Phase II (~4-6 weeks)

Key Restrictions

Extension brace 2-4 wks (locked to unlocked); bike <15 min in Phase II; no impact until Biodex <30% quad deficit and >70% quad symmetry; surgeon-specific meniscal repair precautions; ROOT repair: TDWB locked brace x6 wks, ROM 0-90 NWB; avoid over-cycling graft

Timeline & Phases

Phase I (0-4-6 wks: PWB to WBAT, brace, ROM 0-90 by wk 1) -> Phase II (4-6 wks+: normalize gait, CKC, stationary bike) -> Phase III (14-16 wks+: strength/RFD, no impact; Y balance >95% LSI, Biodex <30%) -> Phase IV/V (cutting/pivoting, RTS at 9+ months)

Notes

Soft tissue graft = hamstring or all-soft-tissue QT; includes NMES and BFR addenda; surgeon-specific meniscal precautions (Baer/Cotter/Day/Sheean/Spiker vs. Scerpella); Spectrum rehab class at UW Health; re-rupture risk 15-30% in <18 y/o; RTS at 9+ months; UW Health Sports Medicine, Madison WI

Surgeon / Author

UW Health Sports Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Physician Group