NOT JUST RECOVERY
ACL Rehab Built for Basketball & Return to Sport
Basketball-specific ACL rehab led by Doctors of Physical Therapy
In-person in Orange County & Los Angeles
Online coaching available
Is This You?
You just had ACL surgery and don’t know where to start with rehab
You’re worried about re-injury — or not making it back to your level
Your current PT gives you generic exercises with no basketball or sport-specific context
You want someone who actually understands what returning to the court means
You’ve been told to start PT or to rest/wait, but no one’s given you a real plan
You’re not in Southern California, but can’t find a specialist near you
If Any of This Sounds Familiar, You're in the Right Place.
ACL injuries are one of the most disruptive events in an athlete’s life — and the weeks after surgery are often more confusing than the injury itself.
What Makes The Basketball Doctors Different?
This Isn't Generic Physical Therapy
This Is Basketball & Sports-Specific Physical Therapy!
Most ACL rehab programs were designed for the average post-surgical patient.
You’re not average — you need to cut, accelerate, land, and compete.
Our entire program is built around what that actually demands.
Sport-Specific Expertise
Dr. Gabe Ignacio & Dr. Marco Lopez each have 10 years of sports & orthopedic clinical experience treating basketball athletes and other sports at every level — from professional athletes to student-athletes to recreational athletes to post-surgical returns.
One-On-One Sessions
No assistants. No aides. No being handed off after 10 minutes.
Every session — in-person or remote — is led entirely by a Doctor of Physical Therapy who knows your case, your history, & your goals.
Criteria-Based Progressions
You don't advance because enough time has passed. You advance because you've hit objective benchmarks — strength ratios, movement quality, power output. We use force plates, dynamometer testing, and video analysis to make return-to-sport decisions based on data, not guesswork.
The Basketball Doctors ACL Road Map
A Clear Path Back to the Court
From Day One to Full Return
ACL rehab doesn’t have to be a black box.
Here’s how we progress every basketball athlete through their recovery, with specific criteria that must be met before advancing.
Phase 1: Protect & Restore
The surgical knee needs a safe environment to heal. We focus on swelling & pain management, restoring full knee extension, quad activation, and early weight-bearing & gait-training. We start conditioning work that doesn't stress the graft — because your fitness shouldn't disappear while your knee heals.
Key milestones: Full passive extension, quad contraction, minimal effusion
Phase 2: Rebuild Strength & Stability
This is where most athletes stall in standard PT — they hit "functional" and stop. We don't. This phase rebuilds single-leg strength, hip stability, and neuromuscular control with progressive loading. Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training is used to maximize quad and hamstring development without overloading the graft.
Key milestones: Limb Symmetry Index >80%, single-leg squat quality, pain-free loading
Phase 3: Power, Speed & Basketball Movement
Jump mechanics, landing quality, change of direction, and sport-specific movement patterns. No athlete returns to cutting and driving the lane before we're confident in their mechanics. Plyometric progression is structured and tested — not just "added in."
Key milestones: Hop tests, landing mechanics assessment, reactive agility, >90% LSI
Phase 4: Return to Sport & Basketball
Criteria-based clearance using force plate testing, hop battery, dynamometer strength assessment, video movement analysis, psychological readiness, and other evidence based criteria. We don't just set a date — we hit criteria. Once cleared, we transition athletes into return-to-play progressions.
Key milestones: Full RTS testing battery, psychosocial readiness, full practice integration
Phase 5: Return to Performance & Maintenance
Many athletes do NOT return to their previous level of performance in their 1st season back. In fact, majority, if not all, do not normalize their performance until their 2nd season back (2 years post-op)! As a result, we use science-based load management, progressive strength & conditioning, and movement optimization for plyometrics and basketball-specific movements.
Key milestones: Monitoring load (days, weeks, months) Return fully to all practices/trainings, normalized games and minutes played, re-testing as needed
What's Included?
In-Person Rehab
- Full 60-minute 1-on-1 initial evaluation & follow-up sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Comprehensive movement & functional assessment
- Personalized ACL rehab plan with phase-by-phase progressions
- Custom exercise program with video demos between sessions
- Return-to-sport testing: force plates, dynamometer, hop battery, video analysis, etc.
- Manual therapy: soft-tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, cupping, IASTM
- Recovery modalities: BFR training, NormaTec compression, electrical stimulation
- Weekly check-ins and program updates as you progress
Online Coaching & Training
- Intake video-call with a Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Comprehensive movement & functional assessment
- Full individualized ACL rehab program built for your phase, graft type, and goals
- Exercise library with video demonstrations & coaching cues
- Monthly video call check-ins with progress tracking
- Weekly phone call check-ins with program adjustments
- Direct messaging access between sessions
- Asynchronous exercise video review — send movement videos, get detailed feedback
- Phase progressions guided by objective criteria — not a calendar
- Minimum 3-Month Commitment
Not sure which option is right for you?
Fill out the form and we’ll walk you through it on your discovery call.
WE WORK WITH ATHLETES WHEREVER THEY ARE
Southern California
If you’re in Orange County or Los Angeles County, come in and work with us directly. Our clinical performance setup includes every tool needed for a complete ACL rehab — from acute post-op through full return to sport.
Orange County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Everywhere Else
Your geography shouldn’t determine the quality of your ACL rehab. Our online coaching program was built specifically for athletes who can’t access a basketball-specific Physical Therapist locally — but still want a clear, individualized plan they can execute wherever they train.
Available Worldwide
We work with high school athletes, college players, competitive adult leagues, post-surgical referrals from orthopedic surgeons, and anyone who wants to get back to their sport or reach their goals the right way.
3 ACL Myths That Are Slowing Your Recovery
The Truth: Time-based clearance is one of the most dangerous approaches in ACL rehab. Re-injury rates in athletes cleared on time alone are significantly higher than in athletes cleared by objective criteria. At The Basketball Doctors, you’re cleared when your data says you’re ready — force plate numbers, strength symmetry, and movement quality. Not just a date on a calendar.
The Truth: Surgery fixes the structural problem. Rehab fixes the functional one. The quad inhibition, movement compensations, strength asymmetries, and psychological hesitation that develop post-op don’t resolve on their own. That’s exactly what the next 9–12 months of progressive rehab address.
The Truth: Return-to-sport clearance is the start of return to performance — not the finish line. Most athletes need an additional 2–4 months of sport-specific training, progressive practice reintegration, and confidence-building before they’re playing at their pre-injury level. We build this into the program.
Return to Sport Testing
We Don't Guess. We Test.
Most athletes never get objective data before returning to sport.
We think that’s a problem — and it’s one of the biggest drivers of ACL re-injury.
Our return-to-sport battery removes the guesswork from one of the most important decisions in your recovery.
Force Plates
Double- and Single-Leg Force Metrics, Asymmetry Detection
Dynamometer
Quad and Hamstring Strength Ratios (LSI targets: ≥90%)
Hop Battery
Single Leg Hop, Triple Hop, Crossover Hop, 6-Meter Timed Hop & More
Video Movement Analysis
Landing Mechanics, Cutting Patterns, Acceleration & Deceleration
Change of Direction Assessment
Predicted & Reactive Agility, & Sport-Specific Movement Quality
Psychological Readiness
ACL-RSI Screening to Assess Return-to-Sport Confidence
These aren’t add-ons — they’re built into every ACL program.
You’ll know your numbers, understand what they mean, and have a clear picture of where you stand before you step back on the court.
What Our Athletes Are Saying
Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding ACL Rehab at The Basketball Doctors
A: No referral is needed for our online coaching program. For in-person physical therapy in California, direct access is available — you can come in without a physician’s referral for an evaluation. We’ll let you know if a referral is needed for your specific situation.
A: Most athletes return to full court activity between 9–12 months post-surgery, depending on graft type, surgical technique, and rehab quality. We use criteria-based progressions — meaning you advance when your body is ready, not when the calendar says so.
A: Yes. Many athletes work with us in-person or use our online program to supplement their current PT — especially when their clinic doesn’t have basketball-specific expertise. We can work alongside your existing team.
A: In-person gives you access to hands-on manual therapy, advanced equipment (force plates, BFR, dynamometer, etc.), and direct real-time coaching. Online coaching delivers the same individualized programming and sports physical therapist guidance remotely — it’s ideal for athletes outside Southern California or those with schedule constraints.
A: Ideally, within the first week post-op. Early rehab — even before surgery in some cases (prehab) — is associated with better outcomes. The sooner we can establish a plan, the better your baseline going into surgery and recovery.
A: We are an out-of-network provider. Many athletes choose us specifically because insurance-based PT often limits sessions and doesn’t allow the individualized, time-intensive care an ACL requires. We can provide a Superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement upon. Ask us about this on your consultation call.
A: Absolutely. Our online ACL coaching program was built for exactly that. Athletes across the country and internationally have gone through our program. As long as you have access to some open space, gym/weights and can follow video-guided programming, we can work together.
A: Of course you can still work with us! Surprisingly, we take over someone’s plan of care/rehab at various stages in their process for numerous reasons, and every person is at different stages (ahead or behind). That’s why we use a criteria-based rehab plan so that you are meeting your milestones and progressing in your rehab efficiently and effectively. Book a consultation call and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.
Ready to Get to Work?
2 Easy Steps:
1. Fill Out this Short Form
2. Book Your Call
Ask your questions, get clarity for your ACL Rehab Journey, & we’ll help map out your ACL rehab plan on that call
📍 In-Person: Orange County & Los Angeles County, California
🌎 Online: Available Worldwide