This blog was originally written on June 24, 2019, and has been updated since.

If you have scheduled a procedure to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), you’re probably wondering, “How long will I be out of my normal routine?” Although this is an important question, there is much more to ACL surgery recovery than just getting back on your feet. Even after you can walk without crutches or other assistive devices, your body is still healing, and the recovery process continues.

So you’ve messed up your ACL.

A painful injury, for sure, but at least you’re not alone. Every year, nearly a quarter of a million people in the U.S. and Canada injure their ACL (full name anterior cruciate ligament—try saying that after a couple of beers). Let’s take a look at why these types of injuries happen and some ACL rehab exercises to help you through recovery.

Whether you need ACL surgery as the result of a sports injury or because of another type of accident, the recovery timeline is similar for most people. A full recovery, including the return to your pre-injury condition, with full range of motion and stability in the knee joint, usually takes six months.¹ However, it’s important to understand that recovery timelines may vary.