Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Review of Current Literature and Recommendations

AbstractPurpose of ReviewAnterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a common surgical procedure with an estimated 120,000 cases performed in the USA each year. Physical therapy plays a critical role in the successful recovery of both surgically and non-surgically managed patients. Interestingly, ACL rehabilitation protocols vary greatly with little consensus among practitioners. Nonetheless, there has been agreement over the last decade to shift from conservative, standardized length protocols to more accelerated, individualized protocols that vary in length and modalities based on patient-specific findings and preferences. This review summarizes the most recent trends, opinions, and modalities in ACL rehabilitation research, with a specific focus on novel methods to treat the specific psychosocial needs of ACL deficient patients.Recent FindingsWe found that new protocols emphasize early weight bearing, open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises, and other alternative modalities such as neuromuscular electrical stimulation and blood flow restriction. We also found a recent trend toward the use of clinical milestones to determine when a patient is ready for the next phase of a “step-up” rehabilitation program. One particularly nascent topic of research is the inclusion of methods to treat the psychosocial impacts of ACL injury, recovery, and the anxiety around return to sport.SummaryRehabilitation strategy has become increasingly patient-dependent, and the new modalities ...
Source: Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine - Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research