Finally getting to review a few of the @ACLStudyDay home sessions! First up: Managing ACL injuries and athlete RTS with @clare_ardern! Notes to follow in this thread....
#ACL rehab goals:
1) protect the meniscus
2) QUADS QUADS QUADS (strength)
3) injury free sport participation
#ACL Mythbusting:
1) Surgery isn't necessarily needed to get the knee back to "normal."

Rehab alone, early ACLR, delayed ACLR - all had same self-reported knee fctn at 2 yrs post-injury.
#ACL Mythbusting:
2) Surgery may not be necessary to return to sport

Whether no sx, immediate sx, or delayed sx:
- Return to sport at 2 yrs post-injury are similar
- 5 yrs post-injury, 20% in each groups still playing pre-injury sport
#ACL Mythbusting:
3) Individ that have immediate surgery don't necessarily have superior outcomes.

Prehab! Ideally min 3 mths can be very beneificial.
#ACL Mythbusting:
4) Surgery won't prevent OA.

OA prevalence is pretty equal after ACLR or non-surgical treatment (Lie 2019 BJSM)
Isolated ACL tear: low OA prevalence.

Combined injuries with ACL tear (bone marrow lesion, meniscus tear, articular cartilage lesion etc): higher OA

(Oiestad 2009 AJSM)
How do you get better quads?

HIGH QUALITY REHAB.
Ex: NMSK training, longer duration of rehab program, progressive loading.

(It's actually pretty sad how often this doesn't happen....)
ACL rehab keys:
- start ASAP
- realistic expectations
- criterion-based progressions (individualized/athlete specific)
- respect biology / tissue healing
- high quality rehab
- don't guess, assess!
Return to sport planning:

It's part of the continuum - weaved in through your entire rehab program ... it's NOT just the end of rehab!!

Not just Y/N - Should be shared decision making
Post-ACLR:
Return to any sport = 80%
Return to pre-injury sport = 65%

Mental readiness (low fear of injury and better confidence) key!
Return to sport testing:

1) Multiple tests that mimic sport
2) Open tasks (eg, sport-specific situations)
3) Reactive decision-making when fatigued
4) Monitor workload
5) Check psych factors
Understand the demands of the sport!

RTS Tests:
- time (min 9 mths)
- hop symmetry (and agility)
- Quad strength/symmetry
- Psych readiness/confidence
- on-field testing
Re-injury rates:
65% within 6 months after RTS (Kyritsis 2016 BJSM)
"Return to sport planning is really about managing injury risk."

How much risk are you willing to tolerate? Your answer is going to vary based on the injury (severity), age, etc.
Risk assessment:
1) Health risk (age, strength, past history of injury, etc)
2) Sport risk (demands of sport)
3) Risk tolerance (coach, imptnce of game, etc)
You can follow @czuppons.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: