“When can I play again?” That’s the first question almost every ACL athlete asks. My answer: when you pass the testing, not when the calendar says so. Return to sport is criteria-based, not timeline-based.
Here’s what we test, the bar you need to hit, and what happens once you pass.
Why testing and not a date
Getting cleared means your knee passed the surgeon’s protocols. It doesn’t by itself mean you’ve been tested for what your sport asks of you. A lot of clinics go by basic timelines instead of gathering objective data. We always assess and never guess. Feeling good is not the same as being ready. What “cleared” actually means →
What we measure
- Strength. Quad and hamstring, side to side. Your quad also has to be strong for your body weight, not just close to the other leg. Why the quad stays weak →
- Power and jump height. On force plates, which show how much force each leg produces and absorbs.
- How fast you produce force. This is what makes you explosive.
- Landing on one leg.
- Cutting and changing direction. Side to side and full turns, including the step right before you plant.
- Speed. As good as before, or better.
- How you move. Mechanics, not just numbers.
- Jumping when you’re tired. Whether your jump holds up as you fatigue.
- Confidence. A short questionnaire checks how confident you feel and how worried you are about getting hurt again.
The bar: within 90% of the other side
Strength, power, movement quality, change of direction and how fast you produce force all need to be within 90% of your other leg. Not one or two of them. All of them.
We test, train, and retest. You move through each phase of rehab when you hit the criteria for it, not when a set number of weeks has passed. If something comes up short, that’s what we train next, then we retest.
After you pass: control to chaos
Passing the testing doesn’t mean straight back to games. It’s a progression: drills where you know exactly what’s coming, then planned cuts, then live play against others, then contact, then full practice, then games. Strength and performance training keep going the whole time. We can train less often, but it doesn’t just stop. What this looks like for a basketball player →
Common questions
When can I return to sport after ACL surgery?
When you pass return-to-sport testing, not on a set date. Return to sport is criteria-based, not timeline-based.
What is return-to-sport testing after ACL surgery?
We measure strength, power, how fast you produce force, landing, cutting and changing direction, speed and how you move, and check your confidence in the knee. Each is compared with your other leg.
What do I need to score to be ready?
Everything needs to be within 90% of your other side, and your quad has to be strong for your body weight.
Work with us
I work 1:1 with athletes in Miami on ACL rehab, with testing guiding every decision. I’m a former basketball player with two knee surgeries of my own, and at EXOS I rehabbed 30+ athletes for the NFL Combine.
9 months after ACL surgery: are you actually ready? →
This article is for general education and isn’t a substitute for an individual evaluation.