Are You Struggling with Knee Extension After ACL Surgery?
If you’re months post-ACL surgery and still can’t fully straighten your knee, you might have heard the term Cyclops lesion. But here’s the truth: 9 out of 10 times, it’s NOT a Cyclops lesion—it’s just bad rehab.
As an ACL rehab specialist, I’m seeing more and more cases of Cyclops lesions because I’m getting a lot of second opinions from people who haven’t been listened to by their therapist. They keep telling their physio, “I don’t have full extension,” but they’re just told, “Give it time.” The reality? Time alone won’t fix knee extension.
What is a Cyclops Lesion?
A Cyclops lesion is a scar tissue build-up that physically blocks full knee extension after ACL surgery. It can cause pain, stiffness, and a catching or clunking sensation when trying to straighten your knee.
🚩 Key Symptoms of a Cyclops Lesion:
✅ Full extension is blocked—your knee physically won’t go straight.
✅ You get full extension, but it doesn’t last—it keeps stiffening back up.
✅ Pain at the front of the knee when trying to straighten.
✅ A catching or clunking sensation when extending.
✅ Only confirmed via MRI—and the only treatment is surgery to remove it.
Why 90% of Cases Are Just Bad Rehab
Most people don’t have a Cyclops lesion—they’ve just been given poor rehab advice. The biggest mistake I see? Physios telling patients to just “push” their knee into extension instead of actively strengthening the quads to hold it there.
❌ What Doesn’t Work?
- Sitting with weight on your knee, hoping for full extension.
- Forcing your knee down without retraining the quads.
- Doing the same exercises every week without measurable progress.
✅ What Actually Works?
- Quad activation exercises to hold full extension.
- Laying and standing drills to rebuild knee control.
- A structured ACL rehab plan that prioritizes extension from day one.
Watch My Full Breakdown on Cyclops Lesions vs. Bad Rehab
🎥 I just dropped a YouTube video explaining everything in detail. If you’re still stuck with knee extension issues, watch this before assuming the worst.
👉 Watch Now
Need a Rehab Plan That Actually Works?
If your knee still isn’t straight and you’ve been told “it’ll come with time”, don’t waste more weeks guessing your way through rehab. My Complete ACL Recovery Guide walks you through exactly what to do—step by step.
🔗 Get the ACL Recovery Guide Here
📩 Questions? Drop a comment on my YouTube video or DM me on Instagram. Let’s get your knee moving properly again! 🚀