The most important aspects in the rehabilitation of semiprofessional athletes after an anterior cruciate ligament injury: to operate or not?

Abstract

In recent times, accumulating scientific data prove that in patients who have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, their stability of the knee joint can be restored by a properly constructed rehabilitation program, including motor retraining, compliance with tissue healing time, and an innovative approach in physical therapy by long-term immobilization of the knee joint in a special orthosis within 4 weeks, followed by a complete return of the extent of joint movements by 10 weeks of rehabilitation. In addition, numerous cadaveric, histological, and magnetic resonance imaging studies have proved that the anterior cruciate ligament is capable of self-healing after partial or complete disruption. In connection with the new findings, revising the established modern protocols of surgical treatment in the context of its needs for different cohorts of patients is necessary. This article discusses the need for surgical treatment and modern possibilities of conservative therapy after an anterior cruciate ligament injury, rules of inclusion and exclusion of patients for surgical treatment, and key aspects in the physical therapy of patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Keywords

anterior cruciate ligament / ACL / physical therapy / rehabilitation

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