A perioperative rehabilitation program for anterior cruciate ligament surgery

Rehabilitation programs have progressed alongside surgical advances in ante rior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A perioperative program has been suc cessfully used at our clinic for more than 10 years to reduce postoperative complications and return patients to activity safely and quickly. The four -phase program starts at the time of injury and preoperatively includes agg ressive swelling reduction, hyperextension exercises, gait training, and me ntal preparation. Goals after surgery are to control swelling while regaini ng full knee range of motion. After quadriceps strengthening goals are reac hed, patients can shift to sport-specific exercises.