Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament injuries - A survey of Swedish physical therapists.

OBJECTIVE

Describe current rehabilitation practices among physiotherapists in Sweden for patients who have undergone an ACL reconstruction (ACLR)

DESIGN

Cross-sectional online survey.

SETTING

Online survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Swedish physiotherapists.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The survey assessed how physiotherapists rehabilitate patients after ACLR including timeframes, content and progression of rehabilitation, and adaptations depending on graft and modalities used.

RESULTS

A total of 146 physiotherapists were included in the analyses. Rehabilitation was evidence-based, with physiotherapists integrating both research-based evidence and clinical experience when selecting exercises. Exercise therapy was rated as the most important intervention, with early rehabilitation focusing on circulation training and movement control, and later phases progressing toward balance and strength training, plyometrics, physical conditioning, and sport-specific activities. Descriptions of exercise progression, training volume, and graft-specific considerations are provided. The main areas of variability between physiotherapists concerned exercise dosage, frequency of patient visits, and the timing and implementation of open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises.

CONCLUSION

Swedish physiotherapists deliver rehabilitation consistent with contemporary evidence, although some variation exists in specific aspects of practical implementation and in approaches informed by physiotherapist's clinical experience. These findings may serve as an important foundation for the development of national guidelines for post-ACLR rehabilitation.