Current perspectives and clinical practice of physiotherapists on assessment, rehabilitation, and return to sport criteria after anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction. An online survey of 538 physiotherapists. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Korakakis, Vasileios; Kotsifaki, Argyro; Korakaki, Alexandra; Karanasios, Stefanos; Whiteley, Rodney
• Is Part Of: Physical therapy in sport. Volume 52(2021)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction -- Physical therapy -- Rehabilitation -- Return to sport; Sports physical therapy -- Periodicals; Sports injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- diagnosis -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; 615.82088796
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.08.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-853X

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the perspectives and clinical practice of physiotherapists regarding rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Design: Online survey. Setting: Survey platform. Participants: Greek physiotherapists. Outcome measures: The survey consisted of 7 sections: participant demographics, importance of ACLR rehabilitation, clinical measurements, practice, criteria to progress rehabilitation, return to running and return to sport. Results: Significant variability in measures and criteria used for clinical decision-making were found including: limb symmetry in strength and function, knee range of motion and effusion, progression, and return to sport criteria. The majority of the practitioners (28.3%) extrapolate knee strength from hop capacity. Return to running ranged from 3 to 5 months post-operatively reflecting that this was tied to physical capacities, not time from surgery. 70.0% of the Greek physiotherapists would allow return to sport ≤9 months after ACLR. Agreement was found in using: physical measures, function, and dynamic stability in ACLR rehabilitation, but the mode and interpretation varied substantially. Less than 29.0% of the physiotherapists reported using patient-reported outcome measures in their decision-making. Conclusion: Current ACLR rehabilitation practices in Greece are largely not aligned with the contemporary scientific evidence and guidelines. Highlights: Criteria for clinical decision-making were variable between physiotherapists. Clinical measures used by physiotherapists presented significant variability. Current ACLR practices are largely not aligned with evidence and guidelines.