Slower but Not Safer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Return to Play and Graft Re-Rupture After ACL Reconstruction in Professional Soccer Players
More than 92% of professional soccer players successfully RTP after ACLR, and approximately 80% recover their pre-injury level. However, in recent years, RTP has become significantly slower-by over 40%-without a corresponding reduction in graft re-rupture rates. These findings suggest a shift toward more conservative, criteria-based RTP decision-making in professional soccer, reflecting greater emphasis on graft protection and long-term knee health. Level of Evidence Systematic review and meta-analysis of level IV. Trial Registration PROSPERO - CRD420251012143.
Authors
- Amit Meena (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0902-8873)
- Elmar Herbst (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5652-0692)
- Alessandro Carrozzo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7542-8154)
- Riccardo D’Ambrosi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1216-792X)
- Elisabeth Abermann
- Christian Fink (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8446-2434)
- Luca Maria Sconfienza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0759-8431)
- Edoardo Monaco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3913-4658)
Institutions
- Innsbruck Medical University (AT)
- University of Milan (IT)
- University of Münster (DE)
- Shalby Hospitals (IN)
- Istituto Clinico Sant'Ambrogio (IT)
- Gelenkpunkt (AT)
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Sports Medicine - Open
- Published
- 2025-12-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00962-2
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.01
Funders
- Ministero della Salute