Your kid had ACL surgery, did the rehab, and the surgeon says they’re cleared. That’s a big step, and it’s worth celebrating.
So what does “cleared” actually mean? It’s the question I hear from parents more than any other.
It means they cleared the surgeon’s protocols. It doesn’t, by itself, mean they’ve been tested for what their sport asks of them.
What “cleared” covers
Cleared means the knee passed the surgeon’s checklist. Your surgeon’s job was to make sure the knee healed and the graft is safe. Our job is to make sure your kid is ready for the game.
What sport asks for on top of that
Before an athlete goes back, I want to test them on:
- Strength, especially the quad, which has to be strong for their body weight
- Power, and how fast they produce force (what makes them explosive)
- Producing force and absorbing it, like landing from a jump
- Sprinting, cutting and changing direction
- How they move: their mechanics when they do all of the above
Each of these needs to be within 90% of the other side. A short questionnaire also checks how confident they feel in the knee.
Why a cleared athlete can still be behind
Most of the ACL athletes I see were already cleared and are still weak on that side. After knee surgery the body shuts the quad down, and it can take a long time to come back. Here’s why the quad stays weak →
What you might notice as a parent: they’ve lost speed, their jump isn’t back, or they get pain at the front of the knee. Practice and games don’t wait for an athlete to warm up into it.
Return to sport is criteria-based, not timeline-based
A typical clinic works off timelines. I work off data. Your kid moves to the next phase when they pass the criteria for it, not when the calendar says so. We always assess and never guess.
9 months after ACL surgery: are they actually ready? →
Common questions from parents
What does “cleared” mean after ACL surgery?
It means your kid cleared the surgeon’s protocols. It doesn’t by itself mean they’ve been tested for strength, power, sprinting, cutting and how they move.
If my kid is cleared, can they go straight back to practice?
Not until they’ve been tested. We check strength, power, producing and absorbing force, sprinting, cutting, changing direction and mechanics. Each needs to be within 90% of the other side.
How long does it take after being cleared?
It depends on what the testing shows. Return to sport is criteria-based, not timeline-based, so there’s no set date.
Work with us
Learn more about ACL rehab in Miami →
This article is for general education and isn’t a substitute for an individual evaluation.