Return-to-Sport Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgical Treatment May Be Improved by Attention to Modifiable Factors and Consideration of Nonmodifiable Factors.

ABSTRACT

Today, we who treat athletes are able to effect immediate, significant improvement in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) patient outcomes, regardless of surgical technique, by careful determination of when an athlete is ready to return to sport. "Prehabiliation," bracing, time after surgery to various rehabilitation activities, time after surgery until return to sport, functional testing, strength testing including limb symmetry indices, psychological readiness, age, gender, and type of sport are all factors influencing successful return to sport after ACL injury and treatment. Age and gender are not modifiable, and for some athletes, type of sport may be nonnegotiable. However, each of these factors could be thoughtfully considered before returning an athlete to sport after ACL treatment. All the other factors listed above, from prehab to bracing to strength to psychological readiness, may be modifiable.