Recovery from an ACL tear usually takes several months and can be up to a year, depending on whether you have surgery, how severe the tear is, and what you want to get back to doing.
Typical time frames
Most people recover function from an ACL tear within about 3 to 12 months, with shorter times at the low end for milder injuries and longer times for those returning to intense sports. Healing is gradual and involves phases: early pain and swelling control, regaining motion, building strength, then sport-specific training before full return.
With and without surgery
For partial ACL tears treated without surgery, many sources describe improvement and near‑normal daily function in about 3 to 6 months when following a structured physical therapy plan. For complete tears without surgery, recovery to a stable, functional knee can take 6 months to over a year, and high‑impact or pivoting sports may remain limited or risky.
After ACL reconstruction surgery
After ACL reconstruction, walking with support and doing basic daily activities often happens within a few weeks, but full return to cutting and pivoting sports is usually around 9 to 12 months. Some athletes may be cleared closer to 6 to 9 months if strength, stability, and functional tests are excellent, but many surgeons now recommend closer to a year to lower re‑injury risk.
Daily life vs. sports
People whose goal is normal day‑to‑day activities (walking, desk work, light exercise) may feel mostly “recovered” by about 3 to 6 months, depending on the tear and treatment. Returning to cutting, pivoting, or contact sports such as soccer or basketball typically requires 6 to 12 months of rehab plus passing strength, balance, and movement tests.
Key factors that change recovery time
Recovery is faster and safer when swelling is controlled early, range of motion is restored, and a supervised strengthening and neuromuscular program is followed consistently. Age, overall fitness, other knee injuries (like meniscus or cartilage damage), and how closely you follow your therapist’s and surgeon’s instructions all strongly influence how long it takes.
If this is for your own injury, a sports medicine doctor or orthopaedic surgeon can give a more precise timeline based on your specific tear, treatment plan, and sport.