ACL reconstruction: what return-to-sport really means in 2026

Time-based return-to-sport milestones have been quietly retired in the best units. In their place: force-plate data, hop-test symmetry and psychological readiness scoring.

This post explains what we now measure at 6, 9 and 12 months post-ACLR — and why patients who wait for the numbers to green-light play have meaningfully lower re-rupture rates.