ACL Return-to-Play Playbook: 5 Phases from Surgery to Sport

A printable, whole-leg (knee, ankle and hip) ACL return-to-play toolkit for athletic trainers, sports physical therapists and sports medicine staff. 34 pages, with 24 research references at the back.

What's inside

Why the whole leg, plus a plain-language summary of what the research says, with each recommendation labeled evidence, clinical convention or per surgeon
A readiness gate to check before hop testing or the full battery
Every-session rules: warm-up by phase, swelling checks with the stroke test, and red flags for physician referral
A 5-phase, criteria-based progression with goals, sample exercises and "move on when" checks
A graft-type quick guide (patellar tendon, hamstring, quad tendon) and Hip Flow warm-up
A one-page testing battery summary: knee strength, hop tests, ankle and hip screens, movement quality, self-report and psychological readiness
A scoring key with limb symmetry index (LSI) math and practice examples
6 score sheets: knee strength, hop battery, movement quality, ankle screen, hip screen, and self-report and readiness
A summary scorecard: green = criterion met or screen in range, yellow = within 5 points of target or a screen flag, red = more than 5 points below target, pain, swelling or poor control
A retest plan and trend tracker for anything yellow or red
A what-to-expect guide and update form for parents and coaches
An athlete page: why we test your ankle and hip too
A return-to-practice log and clinician decision notes
References

This toolkit supports clinical judgment. It does not replace it, and it is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for the surgeon's or team physician's clearance.

By Core Elite Health Services, LLC

License: one clinician, personal use.

Format: Instant PDF download. Nothing ships.