“Run at 12 weeks.”
“Start jumping at week 16.”
“Back to sport at 6 months.”
You’ve probably seen advice like this floating around online—or worse, been told it directly by a therapist or surgeon.
Let me be clear:
Any ACL rehab plan that tells you what to do based on the number of weeks post-op is a guessing game. And in my clinic, I see how often that guesswork backfires.
Here’s the brutal truth:
Your knee doesn’t know what day it is.
It doesn’t magically become ready at week 12 just because a PDF said so.
It becomes ready when it’s passed the right tests.
Why Week-by-Week Rehab Plans Fail
I get messages weekly from people who say something like:
“I was told to run at 12 weeks… now I’m swollen, sore, and scared I’ve done damage.”
They followed the plan.
They ticked off the weeks.
But their knee wasn’t ready—and their body told them the hard way.
This is what happens when rehab is treated like a timeline rather than a process.
So… What Should ACL Rehab Be Based On?
Two words:
Objective. Testing.
ACL rehab should move forward when:
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You’ve hit strength benchmarks on both legs
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You’ve regained full knee extension and flexion
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You’ve passed landing, balance, and control drills
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You’ve proven your graft is ready to tolerate more load
That’s exactly how my patients progress. And it’s how I built my Complete ACL Recovery Guide—level by level, test by test. No guesswork. No fluff.
So If You’re Just Following a Timeline…
Ask yourself:
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Are you making real progress?
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Are you confident in what comes next?
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Or are you just going through the motions and hoping for the best?
Because “hope” isn’t a rehab strategy.
Structure is.
The Plan That Actually Works
I built my ACL Recovery Guide because I was sick of seeing people let down by cookie-cutter programs.
It’s not based on time—it’s built on progression.
✅ Know exactly what to do and when
✅ Exercise demos for every level
✅ Tests to pass before moving forward
✅ Built by someone who’s done it, lived it, and rehabbed hundreds of knees
💥 Tap here to get the guide — or stay stuck in the same cycle.