Researchers analyzed return-to-sports decisions and re-injury after ACL reconstruction, according to British Journal of Sports Medicine.
They studied the relationship between knee re-injury after ACL reconstruction and
• Return to level 1 sports
• Return-to-sport timing
• Knee function before returning to sports
Researchers studied 106 patients and measured knee function with the Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale, global rating scale of function and quadriceps strength and hop test symmetry.
Here are four observations:
1. Those returning to level 1 sports had a 4.32 times higher re-injury rate than those who didn't.
2. When return to sport was pushed back until nine months after surgery, the re-injury rate decreased by 51 percent.
3. Of the 38.2 percent patients who failed return-to-sport criteria, all experienced re-injuries, compared to 5.6 percent of those who passed return-to-sport criteria.
4. Greater symmetrical quadriceps strength before returning to sports activity decreased the re-injury rate.