Rehabilitation training after ACL reconstruction surgery is generally divided into five stages, with different rehabilitation training methods used at different stages.
1. 0～2 weeks after surgery: active knee flexion and assisted active knee extension 0°～90°, ankle pumping exercises, straight leg raising exercises in all directions, isometric contraction exercises for quadriceps muscles, and gradual weight-bearing training in 0° position of the knee joint assisted by a brace.
2. 2～6 weeks after surgery: active knee flexion and extension exercises, small-scale static squatting against the wall, progressive resistance straight leg raising exercises, standing “hook leg” exercises, proprioceptive training, anterior and posterior lateral stepping exercises, walking without crutches, and forward step training.
3. 6～14 weeks after surgery: pedal bicycle training, static squatting against the wall, 90°～40° knee extension under the closed chain, lunge exercise, interfering proprioceptive training, step-down exercise, etc.
4. 14～22 weeks after surgery: continue the lower limb strength exercise by using instruments and equipments such as isokinetic trainer, etc., gradually increase the flexibility exercises such as lateral jumping exercises, jumping up and down exercises, etc., and athletes can start the basic special sports exercises, in addition, swimming, jogging and other sports can be carried out appropriately.
5. 22 weeks after the operation: continue to strengthen the strength, flexibility and agility of the lower limbs, strengthen the functional reciprocating exercises such as folding run, figure-of-eight run, two-legged jump, one-legged jump, etc., and the athletes can gradually resume the special sports exercises.
It is recommended that the patients carry out rehabilitation exercises under the scientific guidance of professional rehabilitation physicians or therapists, and must not exercise blindly on their own to avoid unnecessary injuries.