Time to return to professional soccer matches after ACL reconstruction

Abstract

After ACL reconstruction, accelerated rehabilitation allows professional soccer players to return to official matches within 4-6 months of surgery, but in many cases accelerated rehabilitation is impossible. This retrospective study investigated the variables that affect the time to return to competition of professional soccer players after ACL reconstruction. Between October and December 2002, a questionnaire designed for this study was administered to the players competing in the Italian First Division (Series A) who previously reported an ACL reconstruction. Among 479 players surveyed, we identified 38 cases of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction (8%). The mean time to return to competition was 232±135 days from surgery (range, 76-791). In 12 cases (31.6%; group A), there was an isolated ACL rupture and these players returned to competition within 163±44 days after surgery (range, 76-231). Twenty cases were associated with one or more lesions (52.6%; group B), and these players returned to competition within 203±56 days after surgery (range, 146-329). Six cases reported complications after surgery or during rehabilitation (infections, swelling; 15.8%; group C) and returned to competition within 456±203 days after surgery (range, 233-791; p<0.001compared to groups A and B). In this study, a fast (<4 months) return to competition was achieved only in three cases of isolated ACL rupture (8%). Accelerated rehabilitation (<6 months) seems to be possible only in cases of isolated ACL reconstruction or when only the medial meniscus is involved as an associated lesion. The time to return to competition after ACL reconstruction was independent of the surgical technique used and must be considered the consequence of the complexity of the injury to the knee.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury in elite football: a prospective three-cohort study

“…Although hamstring tendons were used more frequently in Sweden in the present study as well, no difference in return to play times depending on the graft choice was found and this has been found recently in another study as well [40]. However, hamstrings is an important agonist to the ACL and concerns have been raised that harvesting the semitendinosus (ST) tendon may result in an increased risk for recurrent ACL injury, since uninjured female football and team handball players with reduced electromyography pre-activity of the ST during a side-cutting maneuver have been shown to be at increased risk for future ACL injury [50].…”

Suggestions From the Field for Return to Sports Participation Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Soccer

“…43,44 In a recent review, Kvist 28 located 39 articles that presented outcomes after ACL reconstruction and criteria for returning to sports. In most cases, the decision of when to allow the patient/athlete to return to sport was empirical and time based, ranging from 3 to 12 months postsurgery.…”

Effectiveness of early quadriceps exercises after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

“…6,24,36 The descriptions of the samples, however, lack specific information about the level and type of sporting activity, which may reflect different levels of motivation to engage in exercise therapy and return to sporting activity. A few months' absence from competition and sport may result in detrimental socio-economic consequences for professional athletes, 31 who are usually more motivated to commence their rehabilitation process at an earlier stage compared with recreational athletes or sedentary individuals. It may therefore be important to assess the outcome of this early exercise intervention within patient populations with a specific level of sporting activity as the psychological benefits of early rehabilitation may be advantageous in competitive athletes.…”