Open AccessRehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Review of Current Literature and Recommendations
Author(s) -
Sarah M. Jenkins,
Alvarho Guzman,
Brandon B Gardner,
Stewart A. Bryant,
Shane Rayos Del Sol,
Patrick J. McGahan,
James Chen
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1935-973X
pISSN - 1935-9748
DOI - 10.1007/s12178-022-09752-9
Subject(s) - rehabilitation , medicine , modalities , psychosocial , sports medicine , physical therapy , anterior cruciate ligament , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction , evidence based medicine , hamstring , return to sport , acl injury , surgery , alternative medicine , psychiatry , pathology , social science , sociology
Anterior 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.