Months 6+

Exercises and Activities

• Vigorous pivoting activities if:
  
  
  • 90% quad/ham strength ratio as tested on the orthotron
    
  • Wear functional brace for first year post op
    
    
    
• Lateral and Torsional Work
  
  
• Start figure 8's - start with large lazy 8's and decrease in size and increasing speed ( start with 50m then 30m then 10m) ( repeat 10 times each).
  
  
• Carioca - running sideways cross left foot in front of and behind right foot for 10 m and reverse pattern and direction ( repeat 5-10 times in each direction).
  
  
• Directional run - facing the same direction, run forward, sideways, backwards, and sideways, 10m in a square ( repeat 5-10 times in each direction).
  
  
• Run-cut 90* running half speed, go 20m and make 90* cut to the right and repeat to the left ( repeat 10-20 times in each direction).
  
  
• Return to Sport When:
  
  

• Full range of motion
  
• Stable - negative Lachman and pivot shift
  
• No effusion
  
• Equal strength compared to opposite side
  
  
  
• Modifications to Protocol
  
  
• ACL+ LCL Repairs - avoid varus stress
  
• ACL+ MCL Repairs - avoid valgus stress
  
• ACL + PCL - Modify the protocol
  
• ACL + meniscal repairs - no squats beyond 90* for 6 weeks. No wall slides.