Readiness for return to sport in non-surgically treated patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury following a public municipal rehabilitation program

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the proportion of patients that pass a return to sport (RTS) test battery and assess changes in patient-reported outcomes and lower extremity muscle strength following three months of exericse-based rehabilitation in non-surgically treated patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Clinical environment (public municipal).

Participants: Thirty-nine ACL injured patients (54% female, median age (IQR) 28 years (24–35).

Main outcome measures: The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Knee Outcome Survey Activities of Daily Living Scale, single hop for distance, crossover hop for distance, side hop test, the Agility T-test, and quadriceps and hamstrings isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC).

Results: Following 3 months of rehabilitation, patients had statistically significant improvements in all patients-reported outcomes and in quadriceps and hamstring MVC. Of 28 patients who completed all RTS tests, 11% passed six RTS criteria, 14% five criteria, 11% four criteria, 4% three criteria, 18% two criteria, 21% one criterion, and 21% none of the criteria.

Conclusions: The results suggest that three months of public municipal rehabilitation improves patient-reported outcomes and lower extremity muscle strength in non-surgically treated patients with ACL injury. However, only one in every 10 patients passed all RTS criteria.