The E3 Rehab Podcast 222. ACL Rehab: Phase 1 [0-8+ weeks] w/ Marc Surdyka and Chris Hughen
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Oct 14, 2025 Marc Surdyka, a physical therapist specializing in ACL rehabilitation, joins Chris Hughen to discuss the essential first eight weeks post-surgery. They cover five vital priorities, including minimizing pain and swelling, restoring knee extension and flexion, and improving quadriceps function. Marc emphasizes the importance of function over time in rehab progression and shares practical strategies like heel props and quad sets. They also address the mental challenges patients face, providing insights on how to cope with uncertainty during recovery.
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Progress By Function Not Time
- Focus rehab progression on objective function, not arbitrary time points.
- Use functional milestones to decide readiness for activities like running or sport.
Minimize Pain And Swelling Early
- Minimize unnecessary pain and swelling to make ROM and strength gains easier.
- Use crutches appropriately and limit excessive time on feet until tolerated.
Use The Sweep Test For Swelling
- Use the sweep test to track intra-articular swelling objectively over time.
- Monitor changes after activity to guide progression and avoid aggravation.