Ace Physiotherapy and Sports in Singapore
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ACE PHYSIO SPORTS
East gate Building, 46 East Coast Road
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Opening Hours
Sat: 08:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday (By prior appointment)
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
ACL Surgery Physiotherapy
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery involves the reconstruction or repair of the ACL ligament, which may be necessary following an injury or tear caused by sports activities, trauma, or a fall.
If the ACL is torn, one of the primary issues experienced is knee weakness and instability—often described as the knee “giving way.” ACL surgery helps restore stability, improve knee function, and prevent further damage such as recurrent injuries or the development of arthritis.
Additionally, ACL surgery can restore the knee to near-normal function, enabling you to return to everyday activities, work, exercise, hobbies, and even high-level sporting pursuits with greater confidence and stability.
The goal of ACL reconstruction surgery is to replace the torn ligament with a graft taken from another tendon. These grafts may come from your own body (autograft) or from a donor (allograft). Artificial grafts may also be considered in certain cases. The common surgical options include:
ACL surgery options:
Autograft: Using the patient’s own tissue, commonly from the patellar tendon, hamstring tendon, or quadriceps tendon.
Allograft: Using donor tissue taken from another person (a cadaver).
Synthetic graft: Using an artificial ligament made from synthetic materials (used less frequently today).
Combined grafts: A combination of autograft and synthetic materials for additional support in specific cases.
Physiotherapy for ACL surgery
Pre surgery physiotherapy
At acephysiosports.com, we recommend beginning pre-operative physiotherapy as soon as possible after sustaining an ACL injury to optimise your recovery and surgical outcome. The main goals of pre-surgery physiotherapy are to regain maximum range of movement in the knee joint, reduce pain and swelling, and achieve full or near-full weight bearing before the operation. Strengthening the muscles surrounding the knee is essential to improve joint stability, while additional strengthening of the hip and ankle muscles helps compensate for the temporary loss of knee function. Through a combination of targeted stretching and strengthening exercises, our physiotherapists at acephysiosports.com will ensure your knee is in the best possible condition before surgery, helping to speed up your post-operative recovery.
Symptoms post surgery
Immediately after ACL surgery, you are likely to experience pain, swelling, reduced mobility, stiffness, muscle weakness, loss of proprioception (balance), and decreased muscle control in and around the knee. These symptoms are normal and part of the early healing process. Following the procedure, you will be unable to drive and will be provided with elbow crutches to assist with mobility. In some cases, a knee splint may also be prescribed to provide comfort and restrict movement, ensuring optimal protection for the knee during the initial recovery phase after surgery.
Post surgery physiotherapy
A physiotherapy rehabilitation programme after ACL surgery is essential to help you regain full function of your knee. In the early stages of recovery, the main goals are to reduce pain and swelling, restore full range of motion, and improve your ability to bear weight safely and comfortably. As your recovery progresses, your rehabilitation programme with acephysiosports.com will focus on restoring pre-injury function by strengthening the muscles around your knee, ankle, and hip joints. Treatment will also work on improving joint proprioception (balance), gait, and muscle endurance to support full recovery. In the long term, after your ACL surgery, acephysiosports.com aims to help you return to your pre-injury condition through a personalised exercise plan tailored to your job, hobbies, and sporting activities.
Treatments included in rehabilitation post ACL surgery:
Day 1-Discharge
In the first few days after ACL reconstruction, the main goals are to reduce inflammation, pain, and discomfort. This can be achieved through regular icing, keeping the knee elevated, and using elbow crutches to limit weight-bearing. For additional support and protection, some surgeons may also recommend using a brace or cricket splint in the early stages following your ACL surgery to help stabilise the knee and prevent complications.
0-4 weeks
During the first month after ACL surgery, the main goals of rehabilitation are to promote early function and increase the range of movement in your knee. Early physiotherapy also focuses on gradually encouraging weight bearing and improving muscle strength and endurance to support recovery and prevent stiffness or muscle wasting.
Early exercises will include
- Gentle range of motion exercises
- Isometric quadriceps contractions
- Ankle pumps to improve circulation
- Straight leg raises
- Heel slides to increase knee flexibility
- Hip abduction and adduction exercises
- Patellar (kneecap) mobilization exercises to prevent stiffness
4-8 weeks
Between 4 to 8 weeks after ACL surgery, the main focus of rehabilitation is on progressing functional activities while preventing joint stiffness, pain at the front of the knee, and scar tissue adherence. During this phase, physiotherapy also aims to improve proprioception (balance and joint awareness), maintain cardiovascular fitness, and further develop muscle strength, power, and endurance to support knee stability and movement.
Exercises include:
- Stationary cycling to improve knee mobility and endurance
- Step-ups and step-downs to enhance leg strength and control
- Balance board or wobble cushion exercises to improve proprioception
- Leg presses within a safe range to build quadriceps and hamstring strength
- Bridging exercises to strengthen gluteal and core muscles
- Gentle resistance band exercises for overall lower limb conditioning
8-12 weeks
The main goals of rehabilitation at 8–12 weeks post ACL surgery are to further improve functional movement, muscle strength, and neuromuscular control. Exercises from earlier stages are continued and progressively intensified to challenge endurance and coordination. At this point, greater emphasis is placed on strengthening the lower limb muscles, refining walking (gait) patterns, and enhancing balance and proprioception to prepare for a gradual return to more demanding physical activities.
12-16 weeks
The main goals of rehabilitation between 12–16 weeks post ACL surgery are to further enhance muscle strength, control, balance, and overall cardiovascular fitness while refining gait and coordination. During this phase, early sports-specific activities can be gradually introduced under physiotherapy guidance. The focus should be on progressive exercises that simulate functional movements and prepare the knee for higher levels of activity and performance.
3-6 months
At this stage, the primary goals are focused on promoting exercises tailored to specific functional and sporting activities. However, it is important to note that some movements or activities may still be restricted if the knee has not fully recovered, even if it feels normal. As rehabilitation progresses, the focus will shift towards preparing both the physical and psychological readiness required to safely and confidently return to full, unrestricted activity.
6-12 months
In the later stages of rehabilitation following ACL surgery, the focus shifts towards achieving unrestricted, confident function and advancing sport-specific skills. This phase emphasizes refining performance, improving agility, and ensuring full strength and stability of the knee. It also marks the earliest possible return to contact sports, provided you can train without pain, instability, or any residual complications.
Success of rehabilitation
The decision to return to unrestricted activities or sports after ACL surgery depends on several key factors, including:
- Full range of motion in the knee without pain or stiffness.
- Adequate muscle strength and endurance, particularly in the quadriceps and hamstrings.
- Good balance and proprioception to maintain joint stability during movement.
- Absence of swelling or inflammation around the knee joint.
- Confidence in movement without any fear of re-injury.
- Approval from your surgeon and physiotherapist after clinical assessment and functional testing.
Summary
ACL surgery is essential to regain stability and full function in your knee while also helping to prevent further injuries or damage. ACL surgery offers a near-normal knee that allows you to return to your everyday activities, work, hobbies, and sports. What’s more, acephysiosports.com highly recommends a physiotherapy rehabilitation program after ACL surgery to ensure full recovery of your knee’s function, enabling you to return to what you love doing most as quickly as possible. Call acephysiosports.com on +65 81535374 to book your appointment today!
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