ROM Knee Brace Dial Settings After ACL Surgery

Read this first: this page explains what ROM dial settings are so you can buy the right brace. It deliberately does not tell you what angles to set. After ACL surgery, the dial limits, locking, and wearing schedule are medical decisions that must come from your surgeon or physiotherapist.

What the dial wheel on a ROM knee brace does

On each side hinge of a ROM brace there is a dial (or pin system) marked in degrees. It sets two mechanical stops: one limiting how far the knee can straighten, one limiting how far it can bend. Between those stops the knee moves freely; at the stops, the hinge physically blocks further movement. Some braces can also be locked straight for walking in the earliest phase.

Flexion and extension, explained simply

• Extension — straightening the knee. 0° means fully straight.
• Flexion — bending the knee. The bigger the number, the deeper the bend.
• A ROM protocol is written as a range — the brace holds the knee inside that range during daily activity.

Why settings differ from patient to patient

Two people with "the same" ACL surgery can have completely different brace protocols. The graft type, whether the meniscus was repaired, other ligament involvement, swelling, and the surgeon's own protocol all change the numbers and the schedule. That is exactly why copying settings from the internet or another patient is unsafe — and why we will not publish example settings here.

Why you must follow your surgeon/physio plan

Set too wide too early, the healing graft can be stressed. Set unnecessarily tight for too long, the knee can stiffen. Only the team that operated on your knee and sees your recovery can balance those risks. Take your written protocol to every follow-up, and have the settings changed by (or exactly as instructed by) your clinician.

What to check before buying a ROM brace

• The hinge adjusts through the range your protocol requires — our Adjustable ROM Knee Brace has an adjustable range-of-motion hinge system
• Straps hold firm for weeks of daily wear
• Fit accommodates post-surgery swelling (see the size guide)
• Delivery arrives before your surgery or fitting date

Send your prescription — we will match it

If your surgeon has written a brace recommendation or protocol, send a photo of it on WhatsApp. We will confirm whether our brace covers the required range, get the sizing right, and arrange delivery timing — without ever touching the medical decisions.