Return to play after ACL

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is crucial for safe return to play (RTP) and reducing the chances of a reinjury. Yet, there is no consensus on the ideal functional tests to assess rehabilitation progress in soccer players after ACLR. PURPOSE: The primary objective was to highlight the existing gap in the literature concerning the most effective standardized rehabilitation protocols and testing for facilitating successful RTP among soccer players...

BACKGROUND: The goal of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is to restore the preinjury level of knee function to return to play (RTP). However, even after completing the rehabilitation programme, some patients may have persistent quadriceps muscle weakness affecting knee function which ultimately leads to a failure in returning to play. Vitamin D has been long recognized for its musculoskeletal effects. Vitamin D deficiency may impair muscle strength recovery after ACLR...

CONTEXT: While current literature has explored the outcomes of athletes who return to sport (RTS) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, less is known about the outcomes of those who are unsuccessful in returning to sport. OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of athletes who did not RTS after primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) and to identify the specific subjective reasons for failure to RTS. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted through April 2021...

Returning to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) can be a challenging and complex process for the athlete, with the rate of return to the pre-injury level of sport observed to be less than athlete expectations. Of the athletes that do return to sport (RTS), knee re-injury rates remain high, and multiple studies have observed impaired athletic performance upon RTS after ACLR as well as reduced playing time, productivity, and career lengths. To mitigate re-injury and improve RTS outcomes, multiple RTS after ACLR consensus statements/clinical practice guidelines have recommended objective RTS testing criteria to be met prior to medical clearance for unrestricted sports participation...

BACKGROUND: The use of movement screens as a clinical tool for injury risk assessment requires variables to be extracted across specific phases of interest. While manually selecting task events is the traditional method, automated event detection is an effective technique that maintains consistency across a cohort. This study aimed to examine variations in event identification, comparing manual detection and the application of an automated algorithm, with a specific focus on a drop vertical jump task...

CONTEXT: Despite positive physical outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) many athletes do not return to sport following ACLR. OBJECTIVE: To determine if there were differences between athletes who returned to play and those who did not return to sport after ACLR in patterns of psychological responses to injury over the latter course of rehabilitation and return to sport. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Comprehensive orthopedic medical center referrals...

OBJECTIVES: Test batteries used to assess a patient's return-to-sports (RTS) following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are currently undergoing continual development, although no consensus exist on tests to be administered to athletes before allowing return to play. A simple standardized jump test battery was developed to objectively evaluate knee function following ACLR, thereby aiding in RTS decision-making. METHODS: Thirty-three patients who underwent ACLR were prospectively assessed pre-operatively, 6, and 12 months after surgery...

After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), return to sprint is poorly documented in the literature. In soccer, return to sprint is an essential component of return to play and performance after ACLR. The characteristics of running in soccer are specific (velocity differences, nonlinear, intensity). It is important to address these particularities, such as curvilinear running, acceleration, deceleration, changes of direction, and variations in velocity, in the patient's rehabilitation program. Force, velocity, and acceleration capacities are key elements to sprint performance...

BACKGROUND: Reactive decision-making during athletic movement has been demonstrated to evoke unfavorable biomechanics associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. However, the current evidence is based on assessments of healthy individuals. We aimed to investigate unplanned jump landing kinetics and knee kinematics in ACL-reconstructed (ACLR) and non-injured athletes. METHODS: A total of 30 male professional soccer players (n = 15 ACLR after return to play, n = 15 matched controls) performed six drop landings onto a force plate...

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common and debilitating knee injuries in professional athletes with an incidence in females up to eight-times higher than their male counterparts. ACL injuries can be career-threatening and are associated with increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis in future life. The increased risk of ACL injury in females has been attributed to various anatomical, developmental, neuromuscular, and hormonal factors. Anatomical and hormonal factors have been identified and investigated as significant contributors including osseous anatomy, ligament laxity, and hamstring muscular recruitment...

IMPORTANCE: Return to sport (RTS) is considered an indicator of successful recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). In recent years, there has been major interest in documenting RTS following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Despite women being at increased risk for ACL injuries and a global increase in women's participation in sports, research has not adequately focused on female athletes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the RTS rate in female athletes after ACLR...

BACKGROUND: Playing football involves a high risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and these may affect knee function and activity level. OBJECTIVES: To measure changes in self-reported knee function, activity level, and satisfaction with knee function and activity level in female football players with or without an ACL-reconstructed knee. METHODS: Female football players, age 19.9 (SD 2.6) years, with either a primary ACL-reconstruction 1...

CONTEXT: Low scores on psychological patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs), including the anterior cruciate ligament-return to sport after injury (ACL-RSI) and injury-psychological readiness to return to sport (I-PRRS), after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) have been associated with a maladaptive psychological response to injury and poor prognosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of time post-ACLR and sex on ACL-RSI and I-PRRS scores and generate normative reference curves...

CONTEXT: The limb symmetry index (LSI) is recommended as a milestone of return to play (RTP), and relying on the LSI value of a single-leg hop for distance (SLHD) test may overestimate rehabilitation status. Identifying a more reliable functional test can help to carefully make decisions for RTP. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare the LSI value of the SLHD test with that of a single-leg vertical jump (SLVJ) test after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and determine which test provides lower LSI values...

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have investigated return to play after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in professional soccer players, but it is unclear which factors are associated with a return to the preinjury performance and ability to play over time. PURPOSE: To identify factors that contribute to a professional soccer player's return to preinjury performance after ACLR, as well as to report their playing performance at 2 and 5 years after ACLR compared with their preinjury performance...

PURPOSE: To demonstrate return to play (RTP) rates, the level of RTP and time taken to RTP in different sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) and compare the differences between football and rugby. The secondary aims were to compare the differences in intra articular injuries and their treatments and reoperation rates between these sports. METHODS: A retrospective review of a consecutive series of all primary ACL-R undertaken by the senior author between 2005 and 2019 was undertaken...

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common injuries in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and it is important to investigate the actual nature of the injury because it can impair a player's performance after returning to the game. Although the moment of injury has been investigated, the details of the movements and circumstances leading to injury in basketball games are unknown. This study aimed to clarify the actions leading to ACL injuries and to investigate their characteristics, based on YouTube video analyses of the NBA players...

PURPOSE: Only 50-65% of patients return to their previous sporting level after ACL rupture. The literature reports a reduced rate of graft rupture when an anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) is associated with ACL reconstruction. ACL reconstruction combined with ALL allows a higher return to sport at pre-injury level than isolated reconstruction in patients playing pivot-contact sports. METHODS: A retrospective, single-centre study between 2012 and 2020 comparing reconstruction by hamstring tendon technique, isolated ACLR vs ACL with ALLR...

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is frequently injured in elite athletes, with females up to eight times more likely to suffer an ACL tear than males. Biomechanical and hormonal factors have been thoroughly investigated; however, there remain unknown factors that need investigation. The mechanism of injury differs between males and females, and anatomical differences contribute significantly to the increased risk in females. Hormonal factors, both endogenous and exogenous, play a role in ACL laxity and may modify the risk of injury...

BACKGROUND: Arthrofibrosis can limit function and return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Previously reported risk factors for developing arthrofibrosis after ACL reconstruction include female sex, age <18 years, time from injury to surgery <28 days, concomitant meniscal repair, prolonged immobilization, and genetic factors. There is a lack of evidence regarding whether race plays a significant role. HYPOTHESIS: The risk of undergoing manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) and/or lysis of adhesions (LOA) after primary ACL reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft in female basketball players is higher in African American players than in White players...