Quantitative
Testing for ACL
Recovery

Return to sport safely with clear benchmarks, expert guidance, and elite performance testing. We don't just heal your knee. We rebuild your athletic capacity.

Pre-Surgery

Three Tools That Drive Every Decision

A structured, milestone-based approach to ensure you earn the right to progress at every stage of your recovery.

Force Plates

Build the Foundation Early

Reduce surgical stress and restore basic function so your knee can handle load again.

Primary Goals

Reduce swelling and inflammation
Restore full knee extension and flexion
Activate the quadriceps
Normalize walking mechanics

Interventions

Progressive weight-bearing
NMES & BFR for early strength

Tindeq Dynamometer

Earn the Right to Progress

Develop enough strength and control to safely reintroduce running and higher impact.

Focus Areas

Quadriceps strength development
Single-leg control and endurance
Deceleration and movement control

Running Criteria

Introduced only when strength benchmarks are met, not just based on time. Structured loading progression.

Functional Testing

From Strength to Performance

Prepare for the chaotic demands of sport through higher-level strength, power, and agility work.

Key Benchmarks

Quad strength ≥ 90% symmetry
Hamstring-to-quad strength balance
Advanced strength and control testing

Performance Focus

Power production & Force absorption
Change of direction
Sport-specific movement

What we measure and when

Our Testing Toolkit

At REV, every progression is gated by data. Here is the equipment and the test batteries we use across phases of ACL recovery.

Force plates

Quantitative jump and landing mechanics. Force plates measure ground reaction force, asymmetry between sides, and reactive strength index. Used heavily for return-to-sport clearance, where visual assessment is not sensitive enough to detect compensations.

Tindeq dynamometer

Objective measurement of muscle strength. We compare surgical-leg quadriceps and hamstring strength as a percentage of the non-surgical leg (LSI = Limb Symmetry Index). The Tindeq drives our return-to-run clearance at 70–80% LSI and our return-to-sport clearance at 90% or higher LSI.

Functional testing

On-floor tests that capture how strength translates into movement under load:

Single-leg step-downs from an 8-inch box
Anterior tap down from a 12-inch box
Rear Foot Elevated Split Squat (RFESS)
Lateral box squat
Skater squat (to airex pad)
Triple hop test
5-10-5 pro agility
300-yard shuttle

What we measure and when

Phase-by-Phase Testing Batteries

Return to Run testing battery

Force plates
Tindeq strength assessment
Anterior tap down test
Single-leg vertical hop test

Return to Sport testing battery

Quad strength testing. 95% LSI minimum.
Hamstring strength. Tested via Tindeq.
RFESS test. Thigh parallel to floor, 50% bodyweight for 10 reps.
Lateral box squat test. Thigh parallel to floor, 33% bodyweight for 10 reps.
Skater squat test. To airex pad, 10 reps.
5-10-5 pro agility test. Starting right and starting left.
300-yard shuttle. 20 yards x 15 reps as fast as possible, alternating turn directions to keep both sides even.

How testing fits the phases

Pre-op and Phase 1 establish a strength baseline using Tindeq. Phase 2 uses Tindeq plus on-floor benchmarks to clear return to run. Phase 3 layers force plates and sport-specific agility on top of strength testing to clear return to sport. Re-testing happens every 3–4 weeks during Phase 3 to drive progressive program adjustments.

Return to Run vs. Return to Sport

We progress you from controlled return to running to advanced sport readiness, building strength, stability, and confidence for high demand movements.

Return to Run

Focused on endurance and repeated loading capacity.

Key Question:

Can your body handle continuous impact?

Return to Sport

Focused on power, control, and unpredictability.

Key Question:

Can your body handle chaos, speed, and force?

When Testing Happens

From pre-surgery prep to full return to sport, each phase has a purpose. Our process is built around clear benchmarks, advanced testing, and a plan that adapts to you.

Pre-Surgery

Pre-Op

What you do before surgery directly impacts how well you recover after. This phase is focused on preparing your knee and your body for the demands of surgery and rehab.

We work on restoring range of motion, improving quad strength, and reducing swelling so your knee is in the best possible position going into surgery. Patients who commit to pre-op rehab consistently see better outcomes and a smoother recovery. You’ll leave with a clear plan, exercises to follow, and a full understanding of what to expect next.

Weeks 0–4

Phase 1

This is the most critical early phase of recovery. The focus is on reducing swelling, restoring full knee extension, and reactivating your quadriceps. We guide you through safe, progressive movement immediately after surgery, using tools like neuromuscular stimulation, blood flow restriction, and targeted strength work to accelerate recovery without compromising the graft. Our goal is simple: get your knee “quiet” and functioning again so you can walk normally and move into the next phase with confidence.

Weeks 5–12+

Phase 2

Now we shift from recovery to performance. This phase is about rebuilding strength, control, and stability in the surgical leg. We don’t guess when you’re ready to progress, we test it. Using objective strength metrics and movement assessments, we ensure your body is prepared before introducing higher-level activity like running. You’ll follow a structured progression that builds tolerance step by step, reducing risk and setting the stage for long-term success.

Weeks 20-36

Phase 3

This phase bridges rehab and real performance. You’re no longer just recovering, you’re preparing to return to sport at a high level. We build a program that combines strength, conditioning, and sport-specific movement. Training is structured, progressive, and designed to match the demands of your sport. By this stage, the focus is not just being “cleared,” but being fully prepared, confident, and capable when you step back onto the field.

Ongoing