What criteria should be used to determine the moment of return to play?
Methods
Expert Participants
The process started with the formation of a multidisciplinary working group and steering group. The working group consisted of six Dutch ACL experts with 8–35 years of experience in ACL rehabilitation: five physical therapists specialised in sports injury rehabilitation and one orthopaedic surgeon specialised in knee surgery, ACL surgery in particular. The steering group consisted of ACL experts from different professions with 10–37 years of experience in ACL rehabilitation (three physical therapists, one sports physician, one orthopaedic surgeon and one trauma surgeon).
Procedure
The first author (NvM) chaired the working group and was responsible for the systematic review steps (literature search, methodological quality assessment, data extraction, data analysis, description of the results and translation into practice guidelines) and for writing the evidence statement. The working group monitored each step in the systematic review process and assisted in methodological quality assessment of the included studies, the writing process and the translation into practice guidelines. The steering group (chairman REHvC) validated all steps made by the first author and the working group. The KNGF assisted in the administrative processes.
The working group contacted each other by email and every 2 months a consensus meeting was organised. Every other meeting, the steering group joined the working group.
The first meeting of the working and steering group together, started with the formulation of nine clinical topics important for ACLR rehabilitation. These topics were used to guide the systematic review process. These nine topics were: (1) preoperative predictors for postoperative outcome, (2) effectiveness of physical therapy, (3) open kinetic chain (OKC) versus closed kinetic chain (CKC) quadriceps exercises, (4) strength training and neuromuscular training, (5) electrostimulation and electromyographic feedback, (6) cryotherapy, (7) measurements of functional performance, (8) return to play and (9) risk of reinjuries.
Articles found during the systematic review process were subdivided into the nine topics and every topic was given a level of evidence according to the EBRO (Dutch evidence-based guideline development) criteria.[37] The recommendations were, if available, based on the latest scientific evidence, supplemented with best practice when necessary. The results of the systematic review process (see online supplementary appendix 1) were used to formulate the evidence statement (see online supplementary appendix 2).
Search Strategy
A systematic literature search was performed searching in MEDLINE (PubMed) and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant articles from January 1990 up to June 2015 using keywords specified for the database according to the nine topics mentioned above with PICO questions (Table 1). An academic librarian composed a syntax based on all the keywords. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies were included for study selection.
Study selection
All eligible articles were screened first by title and abstract independently by two reviewers (NvM and REHvC). When the two reviewers did not reach consensus, a third reviewer (CN) made the final decision. After this first inclusion, the full-text article was screened using the inclusion and exclusion criteria as listed in Table 2. In addition, a hand search was performed on the reference lists of meta-analysis and systematic reviews for RCTs and prospective cohort studies that were not included in the primary search. A flow chart of the search strategy is presented in figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow chart of search strategy on 31 May 2015. *Topics 3 and 5 share one SR. MA, meta-analysis; PC, prospective cohort study; RCT, randomised controlled trial; SR, systematic review.
Methodological Quality Assessment
Quality assessment of the included articles was independently performed by two reviewers (NvM and REHvC). When the reviewers did not reach consensus, a third reviewer made the final decision. All articles were individually graded for level of methodological quality ( Table 3 and online supplementary appendix 1).
Methodological quality of meta-analyses and systematic reviews was assessed with the AMSTAR checklist. The assessment of risk of bias of the RCTs was performed with the PEDro scale (http://www.pedro.org.au). The PEDro scale was scored on 10 items. Methodological quality was rated poor when an article had a score of ≤4. Subsequently, the RCTs with poor quality were excluded.
The prospective cohort studies were assessed with an adapted Cochrane Library Checklist ( Table 4 ), also used before in the KNGF guideline for urinary incontinence.[38] This checklist has a maximum score of 5. Prospective cohort studies were only used when no higher level evidence was available or to support findings in the RCTs.
Data Extraction
Data extraction was performed by one reviewer (NvM). See online supplementary appendix 1 for the data extraction table. Results from the included studies were synthesised descriptively for the evidence statement. Based on the results of all articles selected in one topic, a final conclusion was made with a corresponding level of evidence ( Table 5 ).[37,39] To correct for double evidence, RCTs that were also included in a meta-analysis or systematic review were not used separately to determine the level of evidence of the final conclusion.
Results
Study Selection and Methodological Quality Assessment
After removing doubles, the systematic literature search in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library provided 3713 articles (figure 1). After the first exclusion based on title and abstract, 101 articles were included for full-text assessment. After reading, no study was excluded. After the hand search in the reference lists of meta-analyses and systematic reviews, eight articles were included additionally. After quality assessment, 19 RCTs were excluded based on a PEDro score of ≤4. The most common flaws were no blinding of participants, therapists or outcome assessors and an inadequate percentage of participants eligible for follow-up.
All final included (n=90) articles were arranged by topic: 10 for preoperative predictors for postoperative outcome,[40–49] 10 for effectiveness of physical therapy,[50–59] 11 for OKC versus CKC quadriceps exercises,[60–70] 21 for strength training and neuromuscular training,[71–91] 11 for electrostimulation and electromyographic feedback,[63,93–102] 5 for cryotherapy,[103–107] 8 for measurements of functional performance,[27,31,32,108–112] 10 for return to play[13,14,17,22,113–118] and 5 for risk of reinjuries[29,35,36,119,120] (topics 'open vs closed kinetic chain quadriceps exercises' and 'electrostimulation' share one systematic review).
Data Extraction
Evidence for clinical practice at all nine topics is summarised below, according to Table 5. See also online supplementary appendix 1 http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/24/1506.full#DC1 for the data extraction table. Final recommendations were made according to the EBRO criteria in Table 5.
Preoperative Predictors for Postoperative Outcome. Ten articles were found about preoperative predictors for postoperative outcome. These were one systematic review,[40] one RCT[41] and eight prospective cohort studies.[42–49]
The prospective cohort studies of Eitzen et al,[42] Heijne et al,[44] McHugh et al[47] and McHugh et al[48]were included in the systematic review of de Valk et al.[40] This level A2 systematic review documented that (1) better functional outcomes after ACLR were achieved for men than for women at a minimum follow-up of 1 year after ACLR, no matter the graft choice; (2) patients younger than 30 years of age had a higher postoperative Tegner activity level than older patients at a minimal follow-up of 22 months after ACLR; (3) patients with ACLR within 3 months after injury and patients with a high preoperative Tegner activity level have a higher Tegner activity level at a minimal follow-up of 2 years after ACLR; (4) smoking, high BMI (>30), quadriceps strength deficits and range of motion (ROM) deficits resulted in worse functional outcomes at a minimum of 1 year after ACLR.[40] The steering group found some prospective cohort studies that supported the conclusions of de Valk et al. Lepley and Palmieri-Smith[45](level B) showed that preoperative quadriceps strength is positively related to postoperative quadriceps strength at the moment of return to play. Månsson et al[46] (level C) found that a higher preoperative Tegner activity level predicts a better outcome at a minimal follow-up of 22 months. Quelard et al[49](level B) described that a limited preoperative ROM and female sex account for a limited ROM 3 months postoperative.
Grindem et al[43] (level C prospective cohort study) and Shaarani et al[41] (level B RCT) investigated the effect of preoperative rehabilitation, so-called prehabilitation, on the outcome after ACLR. Grindem et al[43] described that combined prehabilitation and postoperative rehabilitation had better self-reported knee function at 2-year follow-up compared to postoperative rehabilitation only. Shaarani et al[41] had a follow-up of only 12 weeks after ACLR. They found no differences in quadriceps and hamstring (HS) strength between a prehabilitation group and a group with no prehabilitation, but the prehabiliation group scored better on self-reported knee function.[41]
From the above-mentioned predictive factors, the non-modifiable factors could be taken into account by the physical therapist to predict the outcome of treatment.
The conclusions about modifiable factors in this topic were as follows:
- Level 2: a preoperative extension deficit (lack of full extension) is a major risk factor for an extension deficit after ACLR.[40,49]
- Level 2: a preoperative deficit in quadriceps strength of >20% has a significant negative consequence for the self-reported outcome 2 years after ACLR.[40,45]
- Level 3: prehabilitation ensures better self-reported knee function up to 2 years after ACLR.[41,43]
Effectiveness of Physical Therapy. Ten articles were found about the effectiveness of postoperative physical therapy. These were three systematic reviews,[50–52] five RCTs[53–57] and two prospective cohort studies.[58,59]
The systematic review of van Grinsven et al[51] (level B) described a time-based rehabilitation protocol based on the available evidence supplemented with expert opinion.
The level A1 systematic review of Coppola and Collins[50] investigated the effect of physical therapy after knee surgery. Based on 10 RCTs, they concluded that physical therapy is not more effective than a home exercise programme in a young and healthy population following relatively simple knee surgery as arthroscopic meniscectomy. However, for rehabilitation after complicated knee surgery as ACLR, there is a lack of evidence.[50] The systematic review of Wright et al[52] (level A1) concluded that it is reasonable that a minimally supervised rehabilitation can result in successful ACLR rehabilitation. In their study, Coppola and Collins[50] included three RCTs about rehabilitation after ACLR. Wright et al[52]included the same three RCTs plus the RCT of Beard and Dodd.[53] The level B RCT of Beard and Dodd[53] showed that physical therapy had minimal extra benefit in a, not explicitly described, young athletic population after ACLR. Their rehabilitation programme was only administered from weeks 4 to 16 after ACLR. They found no differences in self-reported knee function and quadriceps and HS strength 24 weeks after ACLR.[53] Hohmann et al[57] and Grant and Mohtadi[56] (both level B) also investigated the difference between supervised physical therapy (Hohmann: 19 sessions, Grant and Mohtadi: 17 sessions) versus home-based rehabilitation (4 sessions). They both found no between-group differences in ROM, quadriceps and HS strength and hop tests at >1 year follow-up,[56,57] but Grant and Mohtadi[56] found a better self-reported knee function in the home-based group. The level C prospective cohort study of Dragicevic-Cvjetkovic et al[58] found a better self-reported knee function and greater improvement in thigh muscle circumference in a rehabilitation group (20 weeks) compared to a group with no rehabilitation at all at a 1 year follow-up.
Both studies of Beynnon et al[54,55] (levels B and A2) studied the difference between a 19-week and a 32-week rehabilitation programme after ACLR. They concluded that there were no differences in self-reported knee function, laxity, ROM, strength and hop tests at a 2-year follow-up.[54,55] The rehabilitation programme of Muneta et al[59] (level B) comprised a 6-month rehabilitation. Their results are comparable to both studies of Beynnon et al.[54,55,59]
The conclusions in this topic were as follows:
- Level 2: owing to a lack of high-quality studies and contradictory results, it is unclear whether there is a benefit of supervised rehabilitation compared to home-based rehabilitation or no rehabilitation at all. A minimally supervised rehabilitation programme may result in successful rehabilitation in specific groups of patients that are highly motivated and live far from a physical therapist.[50,52,56,57]
- Level 2: when comparing a 19-week with a 32-week rehabilitation programme, there are no differences in terms of laxity, ROM, self-reported knee function, single-leg hop test for distance or isokinetic concentric quadriceps and HS strength.[54,55,59]
OKC Versus CKC Quadriceps Exercises. Concerning the OKC and CKC quadriceps exercises, 11 articles were traced. These were four systematic reviews[60–63] and seven RCTs.[64–70]
Andersson et al[60] conclude in their systematic review (level A1) that after ACLR with BTPB, CKC quadriceps exercises produce less pain, less risk of increased laxity and better self-reported knee function compared to OKC quadriceps exercises. They included the RCTs of Bynum et al,[64] Mikkelsen et al,[67] Morrissey et al[68] and Perry et al.[69] The recent RCT of Uçar et al[70] found no differences between CKC and OKC exercises, but they investigated a group of patients after ACLR with a HS graft.
The systematic reviews of Glass et al[61] (level A1) and Wright et al[63] (level A1) conclude that OKC quadriceps exercises should not be used in the first 6 weeks of rehabilitation after ACLR. Herewith, they confirmed the results of Andersson et al.[60] The RCT of Heijne and Werner[66] (level B) investigated early (4 weeks) versus late (12 weeks) start of OKC quadriceps exercises and compared ACLR with bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) and HS. They concluded that the HS group with an early start had more laxity after a follow-up period of 7 months than the other groups. Besides, an early start of OKC quadriceps exercises had no beneficial effect on quadriceps strength.[66] Fukuda et al[65] (level B RCT) described that OKC quadriceps exercises can be started from week 4 after ACLR with HS, but in a limited ROM between 45° and 90°.
The systematic review of Lobb et al[62] concluded that there is limited evidence that a combination of OKC and CKC quadriceps exercises results in better strength and return to play than CKC exercises alone. They also included the systematic review of Andersson et al.[60,61]
The overall conclusions were as follows:
- Level 1: CKC and OKC training can be used for regaining quadriceps strength.[61,62,70]
- Level 2: after ACLR, OKC exercises can be performed from week 4 postoperative in a restricted ROM of 90–45°.[61,63,65,66]
Strength Training and Neuromuscular Training. Concerning strength training and/or neuromuscular training, 21 articles were found. Among them were 3 systematic reviews[71–73] and 18 RCTs.[74–91]
Systematic reviews of Gokeler et al[72] (level A1) and Kruse et al[73] (level A1) concluded that eccentric quadriceps training can be safely incorporated 3 weeks after ACLR and may be the most effective way of restoring quadriceps strength. However, the level A1 systematic review of Augustsson[71] concluded that the strength training programmes after ACLR should be further developed because it is still unclear what is the best way to train the quadriceps. To optimise outcome after rehabilitation, neuromuscular training should be added to strength training according to Gokeler et al[72] and Kruse et al.[73]Neuromuscular training is defined as training enhancing unconscious motor responses by stimulating afferent signals and central mechanisms responsible for dynamic joint control.[92] These exercises are designed to induce compensatory changes in muscle activation patterns and facilitate dynamic joint stability.[92] Nine RCTs were included in the above-mentioned systematic reviews: Cooper et al,[78]Gerber et al,[80] Gerber et al,[82] Risberg et al,[87] Risberg and Holm,[88] Sekir et al[89] and Shaw et al.[90]The level B RCTs of Berschin et al,[75] Bieler et al,[76] Fu et al,[79] Gerber et al[81] and Kinikli et al[84]support the findings in those systematic reviews.
The level B RCTs of Isberg et al[83] and Shaw et al[90] concluded that isometric quadriceps exercises are safe in the first postoperative weeks, because there are no differences in laxity up to 2 years of follow-up.
Baltaci et al[74] (level B RCT) and Cappellino et al[77] (level B RCT) demonstrated that the use of Wii Fit, respectively, neurocognitive rehabilitation have no beneficial effect to a combined strength and neuromuscular rehabilitation at a short-term follow-up.
Tyler et al[91] (level B RCT) concluded that immediate weight bearing had no detrimental effects for laxity and a positive effect on anterior knee pain at a 1-year follow-up.
The main conclusions were as follows:
- Level 1: starting eccentric quadriceps training (in CKC) from 3 weeks after ACLR is safe and contributes to a bigger improvement in quadriceps strength than concentric training.[72,73,76,81,84]
- Level 1: neuromuscular training should be added to strength training to optimise self-reported outcome measurements.[72,73,75,79]
- Level 2: isometric quadriceps exercises are safe from the first postoperative week.[83,90]
- Level 3: immediate weight bearing does not affect knee laxity and results in decreased incidence of anterior knee pain.[91]
Electrostimulation and Electromyographic Feedback. Eleven articles about electrostimulation and electromyographic feedback were found. These were four systematic reviews,[63,93–95] six RCTs[96–101]and one prospective cohort study.[102]
Imoto et al[93] and Kim et al[94] (level A1 systematic reviews) concluded that the addition of electrostimulation to conventional rehabilitation might be more effective in improving quadriceps strength up to 2 months after ACLR. The level A2 RCT of Paternostro-Sluga et al[100] and the level B RCT of Fitzgerald et al[99] were included in both systematic reviews. Ediz et al[97] (level B RCT) and Lepley et al[102] (level C prospective cohort study) found no differences in effusion, pain, ROM and knee extension and flexion moments when electrostimulation was added to conventional rehabilitation. Feil et al[98] and Taradaj et al[101] (both level B RCTs) did examine quadriceps strength and found a higher increase in quadriceps strength when electrostimulation was added to conventional rehabilitation at a 6-month follow-up. Wright et al[63] (level A1 systematic review) summarised that electrostimulation may help improve quadriceps strength in the early postoperative period, but that it is not a prerequisite for successful rehabilitation. All authors did not distinguish between regaining quadriceps motor control and increasing quadriceps strength.
Studies concerning electromyographic feedback are contradictory. The systematic review of Wasielewski et al[95] (level A1) showed that electromyographic feedback improves short-term postsurgical pain after ACLR, but Christanell et al[96] (level B RCT) described no differences in pain during the first six postoperative weeks with or without biofeedback.
The conclusions on this topic were as follows:
- Level 1: electrostimulation, in combination with conventional rehabilitation, might be more effective for improving muscle strength for up to 2 months after ACLR than conventional rehabilitation alone. However, its effect on long-term functional performance and self-reported knee function is inconclusive.[63,93,94,98,101]
- Level 2: electromyographic feedback might improve short-term postsurgical pain after ACLR.[95,96]
Cryotherapy. Five articles were found about cryotherapy: two meta-analyses,[103,104] one systematic review,[105] one RCT[106] and one prospective cohort study.[107]
All three level A1 articles shared the conclusion that cryotherapy is effective in reducing postoperative pain until about 1 week postsurgery, but it has no effect on drainage or ROM.[103–105] The level A2 RCT of Edwards et al[106] was included in the meta-analyses of Martimbianco et al.[103] The prospective cohort study of Glenn et al[107] (level C) supports these findings.
The conclusion on this topic was as follows:
- Level 1: cryotherapy is effective in decreasing pain immediately after application up to 1 week postsurgery after ACLR, but has no effect on postoperative drainage or ROM.[103–105,107]
Measurements of Functional Performance. Eight articles about measurements of functional performance were traced: six systematic reviews[23,27,28,108–110] and two prospective cohort studies.[111,112]
Five systematic reviews (all level B) concluded that there is a lack of objective criteria to determine return to play.[23,27,28,109,110] Extensive test batteries for determining quantity and quality of movement are recommended, including strength tests, hop tests and video analysis for measuring quality of movement.[27,28]
There is weak evidence from a level A2 systematic review for factors that could be associated with a higher chance of return to play: less effusion, less pain, higher quadriceps strength, greater tibial rotation, higher Marx Scale score, higher athletic confidence, higher preoperative knee self-efficacy, lower kinesiophobia and higher preoperative self-motivation.[108] Müller et al[111] (level B prospective cohort study) added better self-reported knee function and better hop test performance to this list.
Thomeé et al[112] (level B prospective cohort study) described that there were poor results at 2 years after ACLR when testing leg muscle power and hop performance and applying an Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) of >90% to all six tests. Only 23% of patients passed when using these criteria and only 10% passed when an LSI of 95% was used.[112]
The overall conclusions were as follows:
- Level 2: an extensive test battery should be used for determining the moment for return to play, but there are no tests or test batteries that have been tested for construct or predictive validity for return to play.[23,27,28,108–111]
- Level 3: It is not clear which cut-off point of the LSI should be used for strength and hop tests.[112]
Return to Play. Ten articles were traced about return to play: two meta-analyses,[13,14] two systematic reviews[113,114] and six prospective cohort studies.[17,22,115–118]
The meta-analysis of Ardern et al[13] (level A2) included their earlier meta-analysis[14] and the prospective cohort studies of Brophy et al,[17] Gobbi and Francisco[115] and Langford et al.[22] They found that 65% of patients after ACLR returned to preinjury competitive sport level within 2 years, but only 38% remained at the same level >2 years after ACLR. Men were 1.4 times more likely to return to their preinjury sport level than women, and BPTB was 1.2 times more likely than HS.[13,14,17,22,115]Laboute et al[116] (level C prospective cohort study) reported 65.7% of athletes returning to preinjury sport level, while Zaffagnini et al[118] reported a higher return to preinjury sport level of 71% in a group of professional soccer players 4 years after ACLR.
Several psychological factors have influence on the rehabilitation process and return to play. According to the systematic reviews of Everhart et al[113] (level A2) and te Wierike et al[114] (level B), a high self-efficacy, a high internal locus of control and a low level of fear are associated with a higher chance of return to play. They included the prospective cohort studies of Gobbi and Francisco,[115] Langford et al[22] and Thomeé et al.[117]
The literature concluded that:
- Level 1: the rate of return to preinjury play level for (non-professional) pivoting athletes after ACLR is 65%.[13,116]
- Level 2: Psychological factors as self-efficacy, locus of control and fear of reinjury have influence on the rehabilitation process and return to play after ACLR.[113,114]
Risk of Reinjuries. Five articles about risk of reinjuries were found. These were two systematic reviews[119,120] and three prospective cohort studies.[29,35,36]
The systematic reviews of Swärd et al[119] and Wright et al[120] (both level B) concluded that the risk of a contralateral ACL injury is higher than the risk of a first-time ACL rupture or an ACL graft rerupture. The level B prospective cohort study of Wright et al[29] was included in both systematic reviews.
The level B prospective cohort studies of Hewett et al[35] and Paterno et al[36] support the conclusions of the systematic review of Swärd et al[119] that altered neuromuscular function and biomechanics could be responsible for the risk of second ACL rupture (graft rerupture and contralateral ACL). Factors contributing could be greater hip internal rotation, the occurrence of dynamic knee valgus or less knee flexion when landing from a jump.[35,36,119]
Their conclusions were as follows:
- Level 2: the risk of a contralateral ACL rupture (>10%) is higher than the risk of graft rerupture (about 5%) (up to 10 years after ACLR) or first-time ACL rupture.[119,120]
- Level 2: altered neuromuscular function and biomechanics (greater hip internal rotation, the occurrence of dynamic knee valgus or less knee flexion during landing) after ACLR could be a risk factor for second ACL injury (graft rerupture or contralateral rupture).[35,36,119]
Consensus Conclusion
Although there are many articles published about ACL rehabilitation, there is limited evidence for parameters that influence or predict the final result of ACLR rehabilitation and return to play. The aim of this study was to describe the process in which the KNGF evidence statement for ACL rehabilitation was developed and to present this practice guideline (see supplementary appendix 2). The goal of the evidence statement was to describe the rehabilitation after ACLR with BPTB or HS autograft and to encourage uniformity in physical therapy treatment and the use of measurements of functional performance. The evidence statement is aimed to fill a gap between evidence and clinical practice and describes a complete protocol to rehabilitate an athlete after ACLR. The multidisciplinary approval of this evidence statement underlines the importance of a close collaboration between different professions.
Despite the fact that our evidence statement is based on information from RCTs and systematic reviews from the two most important databases, the evidence is inconclusive. Owing to this lack of scientific evidence, available background literature and a steering group consisting of ACL experts were used to develop a multidisciplinary consensus statement for an ACLR rehabilitation protocol. This consensus statement was based on three formulated questions with the following conclusions.
What Should be the Content of the Rehabilitation Protocol After ACLR?
The description of the rehabilitation protocol is divided into preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation.
Preoperative Rehabilitation. Preoperative rehabilitation, also known as prehabilitation, is not usually prescribed by orthopaedic surgeons (or trauma surgeons) in the Netherlands. Previous studies showed that a preoperative full extension ROM reduces the chance for postoperative complications as arthrofibrosis.[46,48] Moreover, a deficit in quadriceps strength of 20% or more predicts a significant strength deficit until 2 years after ACLR (level 2).[41,121] Therefore, the steering group recommends to measure the preoperative ROM and quadriceps strength as part of the preoperative rehabilitation protocol. The steering group also advises to measure HS strength, although there is no recommendation for HS measurement in literature. Yet, there are studies that conclude that HS strength in the operated leg is still reduced compared to the non-operated leg until 2 years after ACLR.[121] For this examination and possible treatment, the patient could be referred to a physical therapist to prevent a complicated or prolonged rehabilitation.
Preoperative information about walking with crutches, the early postoperative exercises and the rehabilitation process may improve a patients' self-efficacy; thus, the steering group advises to discuss these topics with patients (level 4). See also Table 6 for a summary of conclusions and recommendations.
Postoperative Rehabilitation. Good communication between the surgeon and physical therapist is of great importance. While the orthopaedic surgeon is responsible for the surgery results and techniques, the physical therapist should be leading in decision-making in rehabilitation. Therefore, the steering group advises that the orthopaedic surgeon (or trauma surgeon) informs the physical therapist about perioperative findings: graft type, menisectomy or meniscus repair, cartilage damage (location, size and grade), ligamentous injuries or complications during surgery. Also, when possible in his setting, the physical therapist should inform the surgeon about the current status of the patient preceding to every preoperative or postoperative outpatient appointment, to ensure that appropriate levels of stress are being applied to the healing tissues.[122]
During the first meeting of the working and steering group, it was decided to define different phases during rehabilitation after ACLR. Current literature describes time-based rehabilitation protocols that are mainly based on the remodelling process of the graft.[51] Since there is still uncertainty about the time schedule of the human remodelling process, it makes more sense to incorporate functional goal-based criteria to the rehabilitation protocol.[123–126] Besides, there are individual differences in neuromotor learning and flexibility after ACLR. These underline the importance of a shift from time-based rehabilitation to goal-based rehabilitation with neuromuscular goals and criteria to manage the rehabilitation process. These goals for progression to the next phase and description of interventions during each phase are based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO 2001). Our evidence statement consists of three phases (see supplementary appendix 2) with a goal-based progression: the so-called traffic-light method of progression through phases. This is relatively new in rehabilitation, but it assures a more patient-tailored rehabilitation.[118,127] Patients can start with the next phase only if specific goals of the previous phase are achieved and these should be confirmed with objective tests (see supplementary appendix 2 for criteria).
The steering group advises to start rehabilitation immediate after ACLR and continue rehabilitation for 9–12 months, depending on the final return-to-work or play goals of the patient.[128] This rehabilitation period is necessary to allow return to high-intensity sport or physically demanding work. This term differs from a previous ACLR rehabilitation protocol by van Grinsven et al,[51] who presented a 22-week rehabilitation with four time-based phases. Recent evidence suggests that longer rehabilitation periods are needed, because most patients are not able to reach the end-rehabilitation goals in 22 weeks.[129,130] Herbst et al[131] presented a new functional performance test battery and concluded that most patients were not ready for return to play even at 8 months after ACLR. Others suggest that home-based rehabilitation is as effective as supervised rehabilitation.[53,56,57] These home-based rehabilitation programmes are designed in countries where patients live too far from a physical therapist to schedule a visit a few times in a week. Important to mention is that these programmes are not designed for patients who perform high-intensity sports. Still, there is no evidence which rehabilitation period or how many appointments per week works best for return to play.
During postoperative rehabilitation, a physical therapist can use several treatment modalities, of which some are proven to be effective in literature and some are not ( Table 6 ). It is known that immediate weight bearing is safe (level 3).[91] The steering group recommends that immediate weight bearing should only be tolerated if there is a correct gait pattern (if necessary with crutches) and no pain, effusion or increase in temperature when walking or shortly after walking. Cryotherapy could eventually be applied in the first postoperative week to reduce pain (level 1).[103–107] The steering group suggests to start isometric quadriceps exercises in this first week for reactivating the quadriceps muscles when they provoke no pain (level 2).[83,90] In addition, electrostimulation can be useful for re-educating voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscles during the first postoperative weeks (level 1).[63,93,94,98–101] When the quadriceps is reactivated, concentric and subsequently eccentric exercises should be used to replace the isometric exercises, provided that the knee does not react with effusion or (an increase in) pain. Quadriceps strength training can be performed in CKC and OKC. Concentric CKC exercises can be performed from week 2 postoperative. For OKC exercises, there should be a distinction between ACLR with a BPTB graft or a HS graft. For BPTB, OKC exercises can be started from 4 weeks postoperative in a restricted ROM of 90–45° and extra resistance is allowed, for example, at a leg extension machine (level 2). For HS, OKC exercises can also be started from 4 weeks postoperative in a restricted ROM of 90–45°, but no extra weight should be added in the first 12 weeks to prevent graft elongation (level 2).[65,66] ROM can be increased to 90–30° in week 5, to 90–20° in week 6, to 90–10° in week 7 and to full ROM in week 8 for both graft types.[51] The steering group strongly advises that neuromuscular training should be added to strength training to optimise outcome measurements (level 1).[72,73,75,78,79,85,87–90]
In literature about rehabilitation after ACLR, there is a lack of focus on the evaluation and training of the quality of movement as measurement of neuromuscular recovery. The relevance to focus more on the quality of movement is underlined by the fact that altered neuromuscular function and biomechanics after ACLR could be a risk factor for a second ACL injury (level 2).[35,36,119] An improvement in quality of movement can be observed as an effect of motor learning. In the early phases of rehabilitation, mostly explicit motor learning is necessary, but we advocate that in the late phase of rehabilitation, more implicit motor learning strategies should be used.[132] This is because implicit learning may produce more stable solutions under stress, anxiety-provoking conditions and fatigue states, especially necessary in sports.[130]
Which Measurements and Assessments can be Applied to Monitor Progression During the Rehabilitation Programme and to Determine Outcomes at the End of Rehabilitation Programme?
There are no clear recommendations regarding the use of measurements for quantity (eg, strength and hop performance) and quality of movement during the postoperative rehabilitation process. The criteria to progress from phase 1 to phase 2 or from phase 2 to phase 3 are based on expert opinion (see online supplementary appendix 2). Besides the quantity and quality of movement, it is important to evaluate psychological changes during rehabilitation with an objective instrument, for example, with the Marx Scale, the Psychovitality Scale or the Knee Self-Efficacy Scale (level 2).[22,108,113–115,117]
What Criteria Should be Used to Determine the Moment of Return to Play?
All included systematic reviews about measurements of functional performance have the same conclusion: studies are lacking objective physiological criteria at what time after ACLR return to play is allowed.[27,31,32,108–110] There is also no conclusive evidence that any test or test battery can accurately identify athletes at high risk of reinjury. Therefore, the steering group recommends to perform an extensive test battery for quantity and quality of movement (level 2).[27,31,32,108–111] This test battery should include at least a strength test battery and a hop test battery and measurement of quality of movement for determining the moment for return to play. An LSI of >90% could be used as a cut-off point. For pivoting/contact sports, an LSI of ≥100% is recommended (see supplementary appendix 2).[133] Qualitative scoring systems as the Jump Landing System and Landing Error Scoring System have been developed in the past few years, but it is still unclear in which manner quality of movement plays a role in the occurrence of ACL reinjuries.[134–138] Therefore, prospective studies are needed to evaluate whether these scoring systems are able to measure neuromotor control and to investigate the predictive validity of those qualitative scoring systems.
