ACL Rehabilitation London:
A Complete Evidence-Based Framework
Andrew Balderston
MSc, HCPC, MCSP, AACP
Clinical Director and COO, Atherapy
FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine
Hull City FC — Head of Medical Services 2018–2025
Nottingham Forest FC — 2009–2018
This resource hub represents Atherapy's clinical framework for ACL rehabilitation — built on twenty years of managing ACL injuries at Championship and Premier League level and translated into a structured, evidence-based programme available to every patient regardless of sport, background, or level. Every page in this ecosystem is written to the same standard Andrew applies in professional football: criteria-based, primary-source-cited, and built around the objective that every ACL patient should get the best possible rehabilitation, not just rehabilitation.
Book Your ACL Assessmentat Atherapy
Whether you are days post-surgery,months into a stalled recovery, or preparing for reconstruction, our ACLassessment establishes exactly where you are against criteria and what theprogramme from here looks like. Available at Moorgate, Strand, and Chiswick.
Book your ACLassessment → atherapy.co.uk | 0808 164 2471 | Moorgate | Strand | Chiswick |New York
ACL injury is one of the most demanding rehabilitation journeys in sports medicine. It asks months of structured, progressive work from patients who are often highly motivated, frequently frustrated, and consistently underserved by programmes that are too short, too generic, or too focused on surgical outcomes at the expense of functional ones.
This resource exists to change that. Atherapy's ACL rehabilitation framework covers the complete pathway — from the period before surgery through to return to performance — and is built on the same evidence base and criteria-based principles that govern ACL rehabilitation in professional football. Every page in this ecosystem is written to primary sources, reviewed against the most current research, and structured to serve both patients who want to understand their recovery and clinicians who want tounderstand Atherapy's clinical approach.
The sixteen pages that follow this hub address everydistinct phase and topic in the ACL rehabilitation journey. Use the pathway map below to navigate to the area most relevant to where you are — or read theoverview sections here first to understand how the complete framework fitstogether.
"ACL surgery restores structural stability. Rehabilitation restores performance. The distinction matters enormously for long-term outcomes — and it is the foundation everything at Atherapy builds from."
Who We Work With
Atherapy's ACL rehabilitation programme serves a deliberately broad patient population — because ACL injuries do not discriminate by sport, age, or level. Our patients include:
- Professional and academy footballers, with established relationships across the London Premier League and Championship medical community.
- Recreational athletes across football, rugby, basketball, netball, skiing, tennis, and CrossFit, at every level from social sport to regional competition.
- Post-operative patients from across the London orthopaedic and sports medicine community, including patients referred by consultants at Fortius Clinic, BUPA, and other private surgical centres.
- Patients who have had surgery elsewhere - in the UK or internationally - and whose rehabilitation has stalled, plateaued, or not progressed as expected.
- Non-operative ACL injury patients managing conservatively, for whom prehabilitation, strength restoration, neuromuscular rehabilitation, and long-term knee function optimisation are the clinical goals.
The ACL Rehabilitation Pathway: 16 Clinical Topics
Each topic below represents a distinct clinical area within the ACL rehabilitation journey. The pathway runs broadly from injury through surgery to return to performance — but every patient enters at a different point, and the clinical priority at any stage is determined by criteria, not calendar.
London Physiotherapy Team
Welcome to the Atherapy expert clinical team. We are a dedicated group of qualified physiotherapists and sports medicine specialists committed to delivering innovative, evidence-based rehabilitation. Our practice is built on a holistic approach to physical health, firmly believing that injury prevention is just as vital as the cure. From treating acute sports injuries to designing custom performance optimization programs, our clinicians work collaboratively to help you safely reach your goals.
Meet our resident experts below and find the right specialist for your recovery journey.
- With 25+ years of Premier League and Championship experience, Andrew has led Medical, Science, and Performance departments for Hull City, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, and Preston North End, following earlier work at the Manchester United Academy
- Specialist in lower limb rehabilitation
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Back pain and complex spinal presentations
- Elite athlete management including manual therapy, gym rehabilitation and acupuncture
- Specialises in complex cases and second opinion rehabilitation planning including return to play
- Limited clinical availability due to wider clinical leadership and operational responsibilities
Andrew Balderston
Based at Moorgate
- With 25+ years of Premier League and Championship experience, Andrew has led Medical, Science, and Performance departments for Hull City, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, and Preston North End, following earlier work at the Manchester United Academy
- Specialist in lower limb rehabilitation
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Back pain and complex spinal presentations
- Elite athlete management including manual therapy, gym rehabilitation and acupuncture
- Specialises in complex cases and second opinion rehabilitation planning including return to play
- Limited clinical availability due to wider clinical leadership and operational responsibilities
Fernanda Saldanha
Based at Chiswick
Dimitrios, originally from Greece, holds a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy from the University of East London. He specialises in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, with a focus on lower limb injuries and post-surgical rehab. With experience at Tottenham Hotspur Academy and other elite athlete settings, he combines manual therapy, soft tissue work, and load management to support recovery and performance. Dimitrios takes a holistic, educational approach, empowering clients to understand their rehab and return stronger.
Dimitrios Michtatidis
Claire is a physiotherapist with a background in creative and physical performance. She holds a Music degree, an MSc in Physiotherapy from Brunel University London, and is also a qualified personal trainer and Level 4 Strength & Conditioning coach. With MSK experience in private practice across London, she takes a performance-driven approach focused on loading, education, and autonomy—helping clients leave rehab stronger, more confident, and better equipped to manage their bodies and prevent recurrence.
Claire Cuffe
Emma graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She has a special interest in strength and conditioning, women’s health and pelvic floor physiotherapy, as well as Pilates. Emma is passionate about identifying the root cause of injuries and helping her clients feel strong, supported, and resilient.
Emma Collier
