Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation for the 10- to 18-Year-Old Adolescent Athlete: Practice Guidelines Based on International Delphi Consensus
van Melick N, Dietvorst M, van Oort MIAM, et al. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023;11(7). doi:10.1177/23259671231172454
An expert panel of physical therapists achieved a consensus on rehabilitation for adolescents with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The authors addressed 1) rehabilitation according to patient age and physical development, 2) educational topics during rehabilitation, 3) psychological interventions, and 4) additional consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon. Table 4 describes the minimum set of criteria (clinical signs, neuromuscular control, and psychology) an adolescent athlete with an ACL injury should meet before surgery. The authors also offer minimum sets of criteria for progressing to different phases of rehabilitation and return to sport.