Zac Efron is making his health a priority just one month after tearing his ACL — thanks to physical therapy that’s helping him rebuild the strength and mobility he lost after his skiing injury and subsequent surgery.
On Tuesday, March 5, the Neighbors actor posted a photo of him at Movement Performance Institute in Los Angeles working with a therapist to rehab his knee. “Better every day,” he captioned the pic. “Taking it literally, 1 step at a time…. thx for support everyone 👊😊👍.”
Efron, 31, told his fans via Instagram on February 8 that he had torn his ACL “shredding the gnar,” adding a skiing emoji. “But all is good,” he assured them. “I opted for surgery so I can come back stronger than ever.” He then thanked his orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ronald S. Kvitne at Kerlan-Jobe Surgery Center in L.A., an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai. Kvitne is also the team physician for the L.A. Kings. Efron also posted a photo of himself leaving the center in a wheelchair on Twitter the same day.
The High School Musical alum has kept his fans updated on his progress throughout his recovery with Instagram Stories posts that have shown him walking on crutches and about to binge-watch Game of Thrones. During his recovery, he also attended the UFC 235 fight at T-Mobile Arena in the Las Vegas area on Saturday, March 2, sparking rumors he is dating Olympic swimmer Sarah Bro.
Often shirtless in movies and real life, Efron stays in famously good shape. And he’s always enjoyed working out, once telling Us Weekly he considered exercising something that helps him “zone out.” He explained, “Girls, everyone, has their yoga or their meditation or whatever. For me, it’s just an hour in the gym where I can just forget about everything. It really, really clears your head.”
Staying physical has also helped him maintain his sobriety. “When I’m very careful about my fitness and have a goal in mind, it keeps me motivated and balanced,” he told Men’s Journal in June 2016. “I wake up earlier. I don’t feel the need to be out — that kills your day, your hobbies and your motivation.” He added that fitness is part of the equation that keeps him sober: “Balancing sobriety and work and finding that comfortable place where you feel like a good person.”
