ACL Physio Melbourne

Dr. Tim Sayer (PhD) holds a doctorate focused on ACL injury — the exact condition you are seeking treatment for. This level of specialisation is unique in Melbourne CBD physiotherapy.

ACL Physio Melbourne

An ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear is one of the most significant knee injuries in sport. At Melbourne CBD Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine, ACL rehabilitation is a clinical speciality — led by Tim Sayer (PhD), whose doctoral research is focused specifically on ACL injury and patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Whether you are managing a partial ACL tear conservatively, preparing for ACL reconstruction surgery, or progressing through post-surgical rehabilitation, our evidence-based program uses objective strength testing and progressive loading to guide every stage of your recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

ACL Injury: Causes, Diagnosis & Assessment

The ACL is one of four key knee ligaments, providing rotational stability during pivoting and cutting movements. ACL tears are common in football, soccer, basketball, netball, and skiing — and occur significantly more frequently in female athletes.

Common signs of an ACL tear include:

A “pop” heard or felt at the time of injury
Immediate swelling and instability in the knee
Difficulty weight-bearing in the acute phase

Assessment combines clinical examination (Lachman and pivot shift tests) with objective isokinetic strength testing using our Kineo and Vald equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

ACL Rehabilitation Program

Our ACL rehabilitation program is criteria-based rather than time-based, using objective data from Kineo and Vald equipment to guide your progression through each phase:

Acute phase: swelling management, pain control, and early range of motion restoration
Strengthening phase: progressive quadriceps, hamstring, and hip strengthening on Keiser and Kineo equipment
Neuromuscular phase: proprioception, balance, and movement pattern retraining
Sport-specific phase: agility, change-of-direction, and sport-specific conditioning
Return to sport: limb symmetry index testing on Kineo, Vald hop testing, and functional movement screening

We work closely with your orthopaedic surgeon and sports physician to ensure your rehabilitation timeline aligns with surgical milestones and your individual sporting goals.

Book an appointment today

MELBOURNE CBD PHYSIOTHERAPY AND SPORTS MEDICINE CLINIC

Our team look forward to working with you to help achieve your goals

OUR AFFILIATIONS

For specialist ACL rehabilitation and knee physiotherapy in Melbourne CBD, visit our dedicated Knee Clinic — led by Tim Sayer (PhD), Director and Senior Physiotherapist. Tim’s doctoral research focused specifically on ACL injury, and he is a member of Team ACL — Australia’s leading ACL research consortium. He has extensive experience managing ACL injuries across elite sport and has worked as a sports physiotherapist with the Melbourne Football Club.