The management of a professional footballer recovering from a surgical repair of the proximal adductor longus tendon through a return-to-performance pathway. A case report

This case report details the management of a 23-year-old professional footballer who sustained a rupture of the proximal adductor longus (AL) tendon. Following surgical reattachment of the tendon, the player completed an eleven-phase return to performance (RTP_erf) pathway designed to ensure a rapid and safe return to play (RTP_lay). The pathway uses distinct phases that incorporate clinical, performance, and sport-specific criteria to guide decision-making throughout the process. This case report outlines the phases and criteria used in conjunction with shared decision-making by the interdisciplinary team (IDT) to ensure a successful RTP_lay. The effectiveness of this pathway was demonstrated by the player's return to competitive play 12 weeks post-surgery.