ACL Injury and Rehabilitation

Abstract

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a primary restraint to anterior tibial translation and a significant contributor to both static and dynamic knee stability, especially for sports and activities that require deceleration and aggressive cutting and pivoting movements. ACL injuries have a significant impact on individual function and on the health care economy, and continue to be prevalent and disproportionate, affecting more women than men. Factors have been identified which can help predict success in non-operative treatment, and surgical procedures have advanced to the point of ensuring a reliable outcome with respect to joint stability. Rehabilitation interventions focus on enhancing lower extremity strength, stability, and neuromuscular control. Both operative and non-operative treatment options, however, have been associated with an increased risk of later osteoarthritis. ACL prevention programs have attempted to correct flaws in movement patterns and neuromuscular control, but long-term data on the efficacy of these programs and of specific interventions are lacking.