ACL — Non-Operative ACL Management

Massachusetts General Hospital · MGH Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

WBAT initially with brace

Key Restrictions

Brace worn initially; no pivoting or cutting; criteria-based phase progression: quad contraction, SLR without lag, Y Balance >=90% uninvolved side; discharge criteria: quad/HS/glut strength >=90% uninvolved, hop testing >=90%, KOOS-Sports >90%, IKDC >93

Timeline & Phases

Phase I (0-2 wks): pain/swelling control, ROM, brace, quad sets, SLR; Phase II (3-5 wks): progressive strengthening, balance/proprioception, stationary bike; Phase III (6-8 wks): return-to-run criteria, agility intro; Phase IV (8-12+ wks): sport-specific training, return-to-sport clearance criteria

Notes

Revised September 2021; criterion-based progression; discharge criteria include KOOS-Sports >90% and IKDC >93; outcome measures: Y Balance, single-leg hop testing. [Archived copy — original Massachusetts General Hospital URL retired in the Mass General Brigham site migration; Wayback snapshot 2025-02-16.]

Surgeon / Author

MGH Sports Medicine

Published

2021-09