Recovery from an ACL tear usually takes many months and depends on whether you have surgery, how severe the tear is, and how active you want to be afterward. Timelines are averages; your own doctor or physical therapist should give you guidance tailored to your knee.
With and without surgery
- Partial ACL tears without surgery often heal enough for daily activities in about 3–6 months with structured physical therapy. High‑impact or pivoting sports may still be risky without reconstruction.
- Complete tears treated non‑surgically can take 6–12 months of rehab to reach good function, and the knee may remain unstable for cutting or pivoting sports.
- After ACL reconstruction surgery, basic walking and daily tasks usually improve within 4–6 weeks, but full recovery for sports commonly takes about 8–10 months, and sometimes up to a year.
Typical milestones after ACL surgery
- First 2–6 weeks: Focus on pain and swelling control, regaining ability to straighten and bend the knee, and walking more normally; many people are off crutches by around 2 weeks.
- Around 6 weeks–3 months: Strength and balance training progress, and most people walk normally and handle everyday activities, but deep squats, cutting, or jumping are still limited.
- Around 3–6 months and beyond: Gradual return to running and sport‑specific drills if strength, stability, and control tests are passed; full return to cutting/pivoting sports is usually not before 8–9+ months to lower re‑injury risk.
Key factors that change timing
- Tear type (partial vs complete), associated damage (meniscus, cartilage), age, and overall fitness strongly affect recovery speed.
- Consistent, well‑supervised physical therapy and not rushing back to sport reduce the chance of re‑tearing the ACL or injuring the other knee.
If you say whether you had surgery, how long ago, and what you want to get back to (e.g., running vs cutting sports), a more specific range can be suggested.
