30/04/2026
AT OR BEFORE 9 MONTHS POST OP? READ THIS ⬇️
Grindem et al. (2016) followed young, active athletes after ACL reconstruction and found each extra month they waited before returning to sport cut their re-injury rate by roughly 51%, up to 9 months. After that, more time didn’t reduce risk further.
Two things worth knowing. It’s a per-month drop, so the gains compound the longer you stay committed through the early months. And time alone isn’t a free pass — athletes in the study also had to meet return-to-sport (RTS) criteria: strength, hop testing, movement quality, psychological readiness. Time + passing your testing criteria = the safest combo.
If you’re 6 months out and feeling great, that’s the right feeling. But the research says adding at least three more months of structured rehab is still earning you a meaningful drop in re-injury odds.
Mid-rehab and wondering where you sit? DM me — happy to help map the next stage.