Defence Health Manual Anterior Cruciate Ligament (acl) Policy 0020/24/25 - Documents For Release (pdf, 149.97 Kb)

Written by Claude Haiku 4.5 from the extracted text on 27 Feb 2026. It can miss or misread redacted and scanned pages. Check the source before relying on it.

This Defence Health Manual document establishes medical suitability standards for Australian Defence Force entry focusing on musculoskeletal (MSK) health requirements. The policy outlines Class 1 standards requiring full range of movement, no pain, symptoms, instability or functional impairment, and no regular medication. Candidates with resolved MSK conditions qualify if they meet these criteria plus have waited at least six months post-surgery or three months post-conservative treatment. Class 3T provisional classification applies to acute, self-limiting conditions for up to 12 months, while Class 4 (unsuitable) applies to those failing Class 1 standards, including those with chronic pain, inflammatory conditions, or functional limitations. The document permits functional assessments by sports physicians, physiotherapists or podiatrists to support decision-making, with diagnostic imaging reserved for cases requiring specialist input or further clarity. Medical officers may escalate uncertain cases to the Chief Medical Officer Defence Force