
ACL Return To Sport Testing
ACL Rehab and Return to Sport Testing: Your Path to Recovery
Recovering from an ACL injury takes more than just time—it takes a structured, personalized plan to ensure a full recovery and reduce the risk of re-injury.
At The Jackson Clinics, we specialize in ACL Return to Sport Testing to help you get back to your activities safely and confidently.
Your ACL Recovery Timeline
While every recovery journey is unique, here’s a general outline of what you can expect:
Typical Milestones
- Initial Healing Phase: Prioritize pain management, swelling reduction, and gentle mobility exercises to promote initial healing and protect the knee.
- Strength and Stability Phase: Focus on rebuilding muscle strength, improving knee stability, and gradually increasing activity with low-impact exercises.
- Functional Training Phase: Introduce more dynamic movements, agility drills, and sport-specific exercises to prepare the knee for higher-impact activities.
- Return-to-Sport Phase: Emphasize full-strength, agility, and confidence-building, gradually reintroducing sport-specific movements and contact situations.
Your timeline will depend on your specific needs, the type of ACL reconstruction you had, and your individual progress.
We’ll work closely with you to create a plan tailored to your recovery goals.
Reduce Re-Injury Risk with Comprehensive Testing
Did you know that athletes who return to sports too soon after ACL reconstruction face a high risk of re-injury?
Research shows the re-tear rate can be as high as 20-30%, especially within the first year. But here’s the good news: structured rehabilitation and thorough, objective testing before returning to play can drastically reduce this risk.
At The Jackson Clinics, we use evidence-based methods to ensure your recovery is complete and your knee is ready for the challenges of your sport.
Our ACL rehabilitation and Return to Sport Testing services are designed to build your confidence, strength, and readiness so you can get back to doing what you love safely and successfully.
What is an ACL Return To Sport Test?
ACL Return to Sport Testing is a structured series of assessments that determine if your body is ready to handle the physical demands of your sport after ACL rehabilitation.
These tests evaluate:
- Strength and Balance: Ensuring your injured leg matches the strength of your uninvolved leg, and that you have equal strength compared to those of similar age, gender, and sport.
- Agility and Power: Measuring your ability to move quickly, explosively, and efficiently in sport-specific movements.
- Confidence in Your Knee: Measure psychological readiness, identifying any hesitancy or fear.
- Re-Injury Risk: Pinpointing areas that may need additional focus to reduce the chance of re-injury.
Our thorough testing process ensures you’re not just pain-free but fully prepared to perform at your best.

What You Can Expect
We’re here to make your recovery journey as smooth and effective as possible.
By working with our specialized physical therapist, you’ll ensure you’re not rushing back too soon, helping you avoid setbacks and stay on track for long-term success.
Our Process
- Initial Assessment: We’ll evaluate your current condition, focusing on strength, mobility, and your unique sport-specific needs.
- Customized Rehab Plan: Our expert physical therapist will create a tailored program designed to restore your strength and confidence.
- Functional Testing: As you progress, we’ll conduct sport-specific tests to gauge your readiness and identify areas for improvement.
- Clear Communication: You’ll receive detailed feedback and actionable next steps after each session. We’ll also coordinate with your physician, coach, or trainer to ensure a seamless return to sport.
The ACL Return To Sport Timeline
Our ACL Return-to-Sport Testing program evaluates and enhances recovery through structured stages:
– Early Stage:
- We conduct a detailed assessment using advanced tools such as force plate testing and isokinetic dynamometry, looking at mobility, balance, strength, and endurance.
- Athletes and their families receive a comprehensive report, complete with personalized feedback and normative comparisons to highlight strengths and areas needing improvement.
- This report is also shared with the referring PT, enabling them to adjust the rehabilitation plan as needed based on the data.
– Mid-Stage:
- Testing becomes more intensive including more advanced hop/plyometric testing, dynamic balance, and repeat testing of early stage tests to track progress.
– Late Stage:
- Even more rigorous testing is performed included change of direction/agility testing, as well as repeat testing of mid stage testing to help determine readiness for return to sport.
- Results are used to guide the last phase of your recovery, ensuring you’re fully prepared for safe and successful return to play.
— What’s the criteria for an ACL patient to return to sport?
Getting back to your sport isn’t just about the time that’s passed since your injury—it’s about meeting specific recovery milestones.
What We Look For:
- Strength Symmetry: Your injured leg should regain at least 95% of the strength of your uninjured leg.
- Dynamic Stability: You should feel confident and controlled during movements like jumping, cutting, and pivoting.
- Full Range of Motion: Your knee should move freely and without restriction.
- Passing Functional Tests: You’ll need to succeed in performance tests like single-leg hops and agility drills.
- Mental Readiness: Feeling emotionally and mentally prepared to tackle sport-specific scenarios is just as important as physical readiness.
- Restoration of Sport-Specific Conditioning: You are physically prepared to handle the intensity and movements required during competition, reducing the risk of reinjury.
— Is This Program Right for You?
Our ACL Rehab and Return to Sport Testing program is designed for anyone looking to return to physical activity after an ACL injury.
Who Can Benefit from ACL Rehab and Testing?
- Athletes: Whether you’re a professional or recreational athlete, we’ll help you safely return to peak performance.
- Active Individuals: If you’re eager to get back to activities like running, hiking, or fitness classes, this program is for you.
- Anyone Recovering from ACL Injury: Whether you’ve had surgery or opted for non-surgical treatment, we’ll support your recovery.
No matter your activity level, our goal is the same: to help you return stronger, safer, and more confident than before.
Start Your Comeback Today
Recovering from an ACL injury can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone.
At The Jackson Clinics, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
It’s time to return to the activities you love—stronger than ever.
Locations and specialists are subject to change. Please call 540-687-8181 for the most current information.
ACL Return To Sport Testing is Offered At:
Ashburn/Broadlands
43490 Yukon Dr.
Suite 212
Ashburn VA 20147
Tel: 703.729.7920
Fax: 888.975.0415
TJC Concierge
A Jackson Clinics Partner
Expert Care On Your Time, On Your Turf
Tel: 877.789.0757