Well, it’s been four months since my ACL repair. I think I’m coming along okay but how can I tell if I’m ready to get back into action?

The answer to your question may depend on what kind of action you have in mind. Are you thinking of returning to recreational sports activities? Or are you a competitive athlete ready to get back into the game? And what kind of sports or activities are you interested in returning to?

The answer to these questions may direct you. There is a series of hop tests physical therapists use to gauge how ready patients are to return to sports. Sometimes only one or two tests are used, but there are four tests altogether that might help you find out your own readiness level.

The first test is a single hop for distance test. You hop and land on the involved leg going as far forward as you can. The distance hopped is measured. The second test is a timed hop test. You hop and land on the involved leg as fast as you can to the end of a six-meter long line.

The third test is the triple-hop for distance test. In three hops, you go as far forward as you can, always landing on the same leg. The fourth and final test is the crossover test. While hopping forward three times, you alternate which side of a line you land on.

A physical therapist can give you these tests and score them to help you see how strong you are. If you want to just do the actions on your own (without proper scoring), it may help you get a sense for how far along you are in the recovery process.

Loss of balance, inability to complete the task, or muscle soreness afterwards are signs that your rehab program is not completed yet.