ORTHOPEDIC REHABILITATION AND CRITERIA TO RETURN TO SPORTS AFTER ACL RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract

The goal of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is for athletes to return to their previous level of athletic ability, which has been an indicator of treatment success for many surgeons. In many cases. an ACL injury results in a premature end to a career in sports. However, ongoing advances in graft selection, anatomical graft placement, and fixations have allowed athletes to more consistently return to sports (RTS) after surgery. The combined use of strong fixation and an appropriate rehabilitation program should restore the knee function and normally allow RTS. However, the ability to make RTS is determined by many factors, including postoperative knee function, proprimption and muscle strength, associated meniscal, cartilage, or ligament injury, social factors, and psychological issues, such as fear of re-injury and motivation. And Returning to previous level of sports more determined by differences in rehabilitation than by surgical procedure, fixation method, or type of graft.