Getting 'cleared' by your surgeon is not the same as being ready to compete. Surgical clearance means your graft has healed. Being ready means your body can handle the demands of your sport.
At Recover + Perform, we use objective benchmarks — not timelines — to determine return-to-sport readiness. Here are the five things we look at.
The 5 benchmarks we test
- Quad Strength Index ≥90% — Your surgical leg needs to produce at least 90% of the force your non-surgical leg can. We test this with objective dynamometry, not manual muscle testing.
- Hop Test Symmetry ≥90% — Single-leg hop, triple hop, crossover hop, and timed hop tests all need to show at least 90% symmetry between legs. These measure power, stability, and confidence.
- Y-Balance Composite ≥95% — Dynamic balance and neuromuscular control matter. The Y-balance test measures your ability to control your body in three planes of movement.
- Sport-Specific Agility — Can you cut, decelerate, and change direction at game speed? We test this with drills that match the demands you'll face.
- Psychological Readiness — Fear of re-injury is real and measurable. We assess confidence through standardized questionnaires and observed movement quality under fatigue and pressure.
That's the difference between guessing and testing.
