ACL Rehabilitation & Return to Sport in Knoxville
A Criteria-Based, Data-Driven Rehab Plan That Goes Beyond “Waiting It Out”
If you’ve torn your ACL, you’ve probably heard some version of this:
“Work hard, be patient, and you’ll be back in 9 to 12 months.”
Time matters, but time alone is a poor predictor of readiness. The best outcomes happen when rehab is guided by objective criteria, repeated testing, and individualized progressions.
The PROMPT PT and Performance
5 Phase ACL Rehab System
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The focus in this early stage is reducing swelling, restoring full knee extension, normalizing gait, and reactivating the quadriceps. Early restoration of motion and muscle activation sets the foundation for long term success.
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We restore full knee extension and progressively regain knee flexion while building controlled strength. Strength work begins in safe, controlled positions and advances as symptoms allow. Range of motion and strength benchmarks guide progression.
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This is where true rebuilding happens. We prioritize quadriceps strength, hamstring balance, and overall force production. Using objective strength testing and force plate analysis, we assess not only how high you jump but how you produce and absorb force. Plyometrics are introduced strategically once strength benchmarks are met.
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Athletes progress from controlled running to multidirectional drills and increasingly unpredictable sport specific environments. We move from controlled movements to more chaotic demands while continuing to build strength and power in parallel.
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Return to sport is not a single test. It is a comprehensive profile. We evaluate strength, power, landing strategy, and sport readiness before clearance. From there, we continue performance development so you are not just back on the field, but performing at your highest level.
Why many athletes feel “cleared”
but not confident
Common gaps we see:
Timeline only progression (weeks post op) instead of measurable readiness.
No objective testing, or testing only once at the end.
Too much focus on symmetry alone, without evaluating how you produce force
(compensation can hide deficits).
Generic protocols that do not account for graft type, meniscus procedure, and your sport.
Under loading: Your sport and activities require high amounts of force and capacity, so you need a rehabilitation program that matches these demands.
Athletes often return to their sport with decreased strength and power, and high rates of re injury.
The problem with typical ACL rehab
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Data Driven Rehab
- Data Driven Rehab
We use criteria based progression rather than timeline based decisions. We repeat objective testing throughout the process to monitor improvement and identify remaining deficits. Force plate analysis allows us to evaluate jump mechanics, asymmetries, and force production strategies.
What Makes Our ACL Program Different
Your program is individualized based on your specific deficits, your sport, and your goals.
We do not guess. We measure and then go through a systematic progression to help you get back to your sport.
Who do we Help
If you are recovering from an ACL injury, this is about you. Your sport. Your season. Your goals.
We work with motivated athletes and active adults in Knoxville who want more than basic rehabilitation. Whether you are a high school athlete chasing a starting spot, a collegiate competitor working to earn minutes, or an active adult determined to return stronger than before, our focus is restoring your strength, power, and confidence so you can trust your knee again.
As the Official Physical Therapy and Performance Partner of One Knoxville SC, we bring a professional level, performance driven standard of care to every athlete we serve. The same objective testing, strength benchmarks, and return to sport framework used with high level soccer athletes is applied to you.
Your recovery is not generic. It is built around your demands, your timeline, and your return to performance.