Criteria-Based Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Corresponding Author: Fernandes L, Doctus Journal of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation.
Abstract
Return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is still commonly decided by elapsed time rather than by measured function. We compared a criteria-based discharge battery against a nine-month time-based protocol in 128 recreational athletes. The criteria-based group returned later by a median of six weeks but sustained fewer second injuries over two years of follow-up. Quadriceps limb symmetry below 90% and a failed single-leg hop battery at the time of clearance were the two variables that predicted reinjury; graft type and surgeon did not. Time since surgery alone should not be accepted as a discharge criterion.
Keywords
Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Return to Sport; Limb Symmetry Index; Hop Test; Reinjury; Rehabilitation
How to Cite
Fernandes L and Kundu A. “Criteria-Based Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction”. Doctus Journal of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation 1.1 (2026): 07-22.
Copyright and Licence
© 2026 Fernandes L. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.