ACL Recovery

Personalized rehab to get you back to sport — stronger, faster, and smarter

An ACL tear can feel like everything's on pause, your workouts, your sport, your momentum. But recovery doesn’t have to be confusing, frustrating, or cookie-cutter.

At Athletic Edge Physical Therapy, we help athletes and active adults rehab their ACLs with a clear plan, expert-level care, and a return-to-sport focus that goes beyond just “feeling better.” We’re here to help you move better than before — with fewer setbacks and smarter progressions.

San Diego physical therapist guiding ACL recovery with one-on-one knee assessment at Athletic Edge PT.

Torn Your ACL? Here's What Happens Next.

Whether you’ve already had surgery (like an ACL reconstruction) or you’re managing a partial tear conservatively, your rehab timeline matters — a lot.

The ACL isn’t just about the knee. It’s about how your whole body works together — from balance and control to landing mechanics, strength, and speed. That’s why our ACL recovery plans include more than just stretching and quad sets.

We take you through every stage of the process, including:

  • Pre-op “Prehab” (if you're waiting for surgery)

  • Early post-op recovery (reducing pain, restoring mobility)

  • Progressive strength and neuromuscular control

  • Return-to-run assessments

  • Agility, plyometric, and sport-specific training

  • Confidence and performance testing before return to play

Not Just Healing — Rebuilding Performance

Our goal isn’t to just “get your knee working again.” We help you return to your sport — whether that’s CrossFit, soccer, running, surfing, skiing, or pickup basketball — with full function and confidence.

We assess how your body is moving at every phase. Because the truth is, returning too soon (or without enough prep) is the #1 risk factor for re-injury. We don’t just count time — we measure readiness.

We Focus on the Whole Picture

ACL rehab at AEPT includes:

  • Manual therapy to address scar tissue and joint mobility

  • Full kinetic chain strengthening (not just the quads)

  • Movement retraining for safer landings, direction changes, and pivots

  • Balance and proprioception drills to retrain your nervous system

  • Return-to-sport testing so you know when you're truly ready

You’ll work 1-on-1 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy — not a tech or an intern — every step of the way.

Physical therapist coaching soccer player through ACL recovery agility drills at Athletic Edge PT in San Diego.

Ready to Start Your ACL Recovery?

You don’t have to navigate rehab alone. Let’s build a smarter recovery plan together — and help you come back stronger than ever.