The Incidence and Rate of Return to Competitive Sport Post ACL Reconstruction: Literature Review

ACL injuries are common in competitive team-ball athletes and are frequently career ending or compromising. The rate of return to competitive sport after ACL injury/management is debatable as well as the surgical and rehabilitation factors that should be considered while managing ACL injuries in order to optimize the return of the athlete to competition. The aim of this research was to investigate the incidence and the rate of return to competitive sport after ACL injury and to explore the various factors which need to be considered in ACL surgery and rehabilitation to support the process of successful return to competitive play. Research aims were met through extensive review of relevant ACL management literature. The rate of return to competitive sport averages around half of the athletes operated for ACL injury with a high rate of re-injuries especially within the first six months after surgery. Proper tunneling technique is an important surgical factor in relation to return to sport and surgery should be done as early as the knee is fully extended addressing all the concomitant injuries. Rehabilitation should be individualized, gradual and comprehensive, covering all the biopsychosocial aspects of the athlete. Decisions of when and how to return to sport are complex and should be team-based and preferably whole- model-based. The rate of return to competitive sport after ACL injury management is relatively low and not as commonly used to be thought of. Many factors are to be considered to optimize the return to competitive sport after ACL injury management.