ACL Repair — (Primary)

University of New Mexico (UNM) Sports Medicine · Will Curtis MD, Dustin Richter MD, Christopher Shultz MD, Gehron Treme MD…

Weight-Bearing

WBAT with brace locked in extension; progress to FWB as swelling and quad recruitment allow

Key Restrictions

Brace locked in extension Phase I; ROM 0-45 degrees increasing 15 deg/week to reach 0-90 deg by week 6; brace arc corresponds to ROM progression

Timeline & Phases

Phase I (0-2 wks): WBAT in brace locked in extension, quad sets/SLR; Phase II (2-6 wks): ROM 0-45 deg increasing 15 deg/wk to 90 by week 6, step ups, CKC; Phase III (4-10 wks): stair climbing, CKC progression, elliptical, pool/unweighted treadmill running at 8 weeks; Phase IV (10-16 wks): OKC knee extensions 90-30 deg, isokinetics, full WB running at 12 weeks; Phase V (4-6 months): plyometrics, agility (85% symmetry criteria); Phase VI (6 months+): return to sport with team

Notes

PT starts 3-10 days post-op, 1-2x/week for 12+ weeks; 6-phase criteria-based protocol; distinct from ACL reconstruction; revised 2025

Surgeon / Author

Will Curtis MD, Dustin Richter MD, Christopher Shultz MD, Gehron Treme MD, Andrew Veitch MD

Published

2025