Reno · ACL return to sport
After ACL surgery, PT gets you walking. We get you back to sport.
Strength training and return to sport testing after ACL reconstruction in Reno. From prehab before surgery to your first day back on skis, coordinated with your surgeon and physical therapist, with Kime PT in our building.
The short answer
Performance EDU Fitness in south Reno trains people after ACL surgery, from pre-surgery prehab through return to sport. It's one of the things we do most. We pick up where physical therapy leaves off and rebuild the strength, power, and control you need to ski, cut, jump, and play again.
Kime Performance Physical Therapy shares our building at 3000 Airway Drive, Suite 175, so the handoff from PT to training happens under one roof. Founder Marc Digesti is an exercise physiologist and former head strength coach for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. Return to sport decisions are made with your surgeon and PT, using objective testing: strength symmetry, hop tests, and landing quality. Training starts with a 60-minute movement evaluation ($125).
Why it matters
Discharged from PT is not the finish line.
Finishing physical therapy usually means you are out of pain and moving well day to day. It doesn't mean your knee is ready to land a jump, cut on a field, or ski variable snow. Research on return to sport after ACL reconstruction points the same way: people who return later, and only after passing strength and hop testing, have a lower rate of reinjury than people who return early on time alone.
That gap between "cleared by PT" and "ready for my sport" is where most reinjuries happen, and it's exactly where we work.
The path
Before surgery, after PT, back to sport.
Before surgery
Prehab builds quad and hamstring strength and full knee extension before the operation. Stronger going in usually means faster milestones coming out.
After physical therapy
Once your PT hands you off, we progress loading: heavier single-leg strength, then jumping and landing, then speed and change of direction.
Return to sport
Sport-specific work and testing. For skiers that means eccentric endurance, lateral power, and conditioning for full days at altitude.
Return to sport testing
Ready is a number, not a feeling.
Time since surgery is one input. We test the rest and share results with your surgeon and PT so the decision is made on data.
| What we test | What it tells us |
|---|---|
| Quad and hamstring strength symmetry | How your surgical leg compares to the other side. A common benchmark is at least 90% of the uninjured leg. |
| Single-leg hop tests | Distance and control hopping on one leg, including repeated and crossover hops. |
| Landing and single-leg squat quality | Whether the knee stays lined up over the foot under load and fatigue. |
| Change of direction and reactive work | How the knee handles the fast, unplanned moves sport actually asks for. |
| Conditioning | Whether your mechanics hold up when you're tired, which is when most injuries happen. |
| Confidence | Fear of reinjury is real and measurable. We train it down with graded exposure. |
How it works
A plan built around your knee.
Evaluate
A 60-minute movement evaluation shows what your knee tolerates today and where the gaps are.
Coordinate
We follow your surgeon's protocol and talk with your PT. Kime PT is down the hall.
Train
Progressive 1-on-1 coaching with a CSCS-certified coach, finished with TableEDU mobility work.
Re-test
Every 8 to 12 weeks, plus return to sport testing when you get close.
Skiers
Getting back on skis after ACL surgery.
Skiing is one of the most common ways people tear an ACL, and one of the most common reasons they want to get back. Your first season back should be planned: groomers before bumps and trees, shorter days before full days, and in-season strength work so the knee doesn't fade by February.
Read When can I ski after ACL surgery? or see our ski prep program.
Pricing
What it costs.
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Movement evaluation (60 minutes, required first step) | $125 |
| 1-on-1 coaching, 30 minutes | $75 |
| 1-on-1 coaching, 45 minutes (most booked) | $100 |
| 1-on-1 coaching, 60 minutes | $125 |
| 24-session pack | 10% off |
Client result
Back on the slopes.
"Marc had a clear plan and in the weeks before surgery set me up with strength. Physical therapy was challenging but I hit all the milestones at or ahead of time."Kris Krus-Elliot, Performance EDU client
Straight answers
Common questions.
Who is the best trainer in Reno after ACL surgery?
Look for a coach who works with your surgeon and PT, tests strength and hops before return to sport, and has experience with athletes. Performance EDU Fitness in south Reno does all three, with Kime Performance Physical Therapy in the same building and a founder who was head strength coach for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team.
What is the difference between physical therapy and return to sport training?
Physical therapy is clinical care: diagnosing and treating the injury and restoring function. Return to sport training starts where PT ends, rebuilding the strength, power, and control your sport needs. Kime Performance Physical Therapy provides the clinical care in our building, and Performance EDU coaches take the handoff.
When can I start training with you after ACL surgery?
When your surgeon or PT clears you for progressive strength training. Many clients overlap with PT for a stretch, and we follow your surgeon's protocol.
Can you train me before surgery?
Yes. Prehab builds strength and range of motion before the operation, which tends to make the first months of rehab smoother.
How long until I can ski or play sports again?
Many surgeons target around 9 to 12 months, but the timeline is your surgeon's call and should be backed by testing. We measure strength symmetry, hop tests, and landing quality and share the results.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book a movement evaluation directly. If you're still in active rehab, we'll coordinate with your PT before training.
Your rehab got you here. We'll take it from here.
Start with a 60-minute movement evaluation. We'll show you where your knee stands and what it takes to get back to your sport.
Performance EDU Fitness · 3000 Airway Drive, Suite 175, Reno, NV 89502 · Mon to Fri 5 AM to 6 PM, Sat 7 to 11 AM