REHABILITATIVE STRATEGIES POST ACL RECONSTRUCTION: ACCELERATING RETURN TO PLAY

Abstract

The consequences after the Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction are not satisfied, and fewer or fewer people return to sports performance. The high ACL rate and knee re-injuries after return to play (RTP) are major apprehensions in young athletes after ACLR. Returning to sports after injuries is not easy; it's an intricate, multifactorial process that requires psychosocial approaches. Recent approaches demand optimized outcomes for patients and need optimized restoration strategies. However, there has been no restoration after ACLR and no sustainable efforts for a few years to elevate this process. One challenge seems to be the disconnection among researchers and patients due to limited evidence-based findings. Thus, there is a need for strong research to translate precautionary and restoration measures into practice. According to the research, rehabilitation sessions include the development of muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments, and strength training is a crucial step. It is an important goal of physiotherapists to consider strength training while also considering the role of the neuromuscular system in the stabilization of joints. When the structure of players improves, they can move as per the sports requirements. Strength training to develop muscles includes 3 and 5 steps of 6-12 recurrences for each muscle group and each session. The intensity is 65- 85% for the maximum recurrence, and it is recommended to gradually go from low to high intensity and volume.