Treatment:

• Initial management should involve protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation (PRICE), issue of crutches.
• Painful activities should be avoided
• Progressive loading of the knee through active rehabilitation
• The treatment regimen can be summarised as follows:

0-48 hrs:

• PRICE
• Active pain-free exercises (gentle range of movement)

After the first 48 hrs:

• Gradually increase strength:
• Active knee flexion and extension
• Knee brace, active single leg raise and inner range quads.
• Hamstring and gluteal strengthening
• Progress loading – Chair/wall squats and stair step-ups
• Knee stability exercises  (e.g. pulleys with other leg, one-leg squats)
• Low impact cardio, cycling and swimming, lower limb strengthening exercises if access to a gym

Functional Strengthening:

• Bike
• Pool running
• Jogging
• Swimming

Sport Specific skills:

• Jumping and landing
• Running-straight line
• Running-figure of eight
• Rapid changes of direction (cutting drills)
• Kicking-gradual increase