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ACL Rehabilitation in Perth

Name: ACL Injuries Physiotherapy Perth
Creator: Daniel Ryan

Criterion-based, 5-stage rehabilitation that gets athletes back to sport safely — with objective testing at every stage, not guesswork.

Book an Appointment 08 6113 8062

ACL Injuries

ACL Rehabilitation in Perth

ACL rupture is one of the most significant sports injuries, carrying a high risk of re-injury — particularly re-rupture of the graft or contralateral ACL injury — if return to sport is based on time rather than objective criteria.

At Move Physiotherapy, ACL rehabilitation is a structured, criterion-based programme with five stages, each gated by objective VALD strength and functional testing before progression. This approach is consistent with the best available evidence and significantly reduces re-injury risk.

We provide both conservative (non-surgical) management and comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation, with early physiotherapy contact optimising outcomes in both pathways.

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Satisfaction Guarantee

Have we met your expectations? If not, we will refund your out-of-pocket expense — no questions asked.

ACL Injuries

🛡️

Satisfaction Guarantee

Have we met your expectations? If not, we will refund your out-of-pocket expense — no questions asked.

VALD Technology

Technology-Based
Injury Assessment

Included gap-free with every initial assessment.

Move Physiotherapy uses VALD force measurement technology -- the same systems used by AFL, NRL and Olympic programs -- to objectively measure your strength, symmetry and recovery. For ACL rehabilitation, this means we can track your limb symmetry index (LSI) with precision at every stage, giving you and your physio real data to guide progression decisions -- not estimates.

Learn more about VALD technology →

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Limb Symmetry Index (LSI)

Track quad and hamstring strength symmetry between legs -- the key metric for ACL return-to-sport clearance.

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Force Plate Testing

Measure landing mechanics, single-leg stability, and explosive power with objective data.

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Criteria-Based Stage Gates

Technology removes subjectivity -- you progress when the numbers confirm readiness, every time.

VALD technology-based assessment at Move Physiotherapy

Gap-free with every initial assessment

Technology-based assessment is included as standard -- no additional out-of-pocket cost.

Causes

How ACL Injuries Occur

Non-contact mechanism — pivoting, cutting, or landing with knee in valgus collapse (most common)

Direct contact — valgus force from tackle or collision

Hyperextension mechanism — landing or pivoting on a straight knee

Our Approach

The Move Process

Pre-Op Optimisation

Restore full range of motion, reduce swelling, and build quadriceps strength before surgery — patients with better pre-op quadriceps function achieve better post-op outcomes.

Early Post-Op

Weight-bearing progression, swelling management, range of motion restoration, and quad activation within surgical protocol guidelines.

Strength & Neuromuscular

Progressive quadriceps, hamstring, and hip strengthening with VALD testing. Graft protection throughout this phase is critical.

Running & Plyometrics

Return to running initiated when strength criteria are met. Progressive plyometric loading assessed against LSI thresholds.

Return to Sport

Sport-specific training and contact cleared only when LSI is 90% or greater, psychological readiness confirmed, and functional testing passed — typically at 9-12 months.

Why Move Physiotherapy

What sets us apart

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Criterion-Based Progression

No stage of our ACL programme advances based on time alone. Every progression is gated by objective strength and functional criteria.

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VALD Technology

The same force measurement technology used by AFL, NRL, and Olympic programmes — applied at every stage of your ACL rehabilitation.

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Re-Injury Prevention

Our programme is specifically designed around the evidence base for re-injury risk reduction — the most important outcome metric in ACL rehabilitation.

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Satisfaction Guarantee

Have we met your expectations? If not, we will refund your out-of-pocket expense — no questions asked.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need ACL surgery?+

Not necessarily. ACL rupture can be managed conservatively in individuals who do not participate in pivoting sports, have low instability demands, and are willing to modify their activity level. However, young athletes in pivoting sports typically achieve better long-term outcomes with reconstruction, particularly given the associated meniscal and cartilage injury risk with ongoing instability.

When can I return to sport after ACL surgery?+

Return to full contact sport should occur no earlier than 9 months post-surgery, and only when objective criteria are met — specifically quadriceps limb symmetry index 90% or greater (VALD tested), passing of sport-specific hop testing, and psychological readiness assessment. Athletes who return before 9 months have a 4-fold increased re-rupture risk.

How long is ACL rehabilitation?+

A comprehensive ACL rehabilitation programme takes 9-12 months to return to contact sport, and up to 2 years for full graft maturation. The timeline is guided by objective criteria, not a fixed schedule.

What is the ACL re-injury rate?+

Young athletes under 25 who return to pivoting sport have re-injury rates of 15-25% over 5 years. These rates drop significantly with criterion-based rehabilitation and delayed return to sport. Females have approximately 3-4 times the ACL injury rate of males in the same sport.

What is prehabilitation and why is it important?+

Prehabilitation — physiotherapy before surgery — focuses on reducing swelling, restoring full range of motion, and maximising quadriceps strength before the operation. Strong pre-operative quadriceps function is one of the most consistent predictors of post-operative outcome.

Full Treatment Pathway