Physiotherapeutic care of patients with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus lesion in Germany

Abstract Introduction Physiotherapy plays a central role in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. While the German catalogue of therapies regulates the type and frequency of treatments in Germany, there is a lack of data on actual prescription practice. The research question of this survey was to examine the current physiotherapeutic care and prescription practices for patients with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or a meniscus lesion. Methodology An online questionnaire was developed and sent to practitioners who regularly treat patients with knee joint injuries. They were asked about current care and the usual prescription figures for treatments as well as the availability of physiotherapy care. Results Between May 28 and June 30, 2024, n = 156 participants completed the survey. Therapeutic exercises are the most commonly prescribed treatment for ACL ruptures and meniscus lesions in the first six months after surgery (prescribed by over 97% of practitioners). On average, 27.1 sessions (SD = 13.6) of therapeutic exercise were prescribed in the first year after an ACL rupture. On average, 14.9 sessions (SD = 10) of therapeutic exercise were prescribed in the first year after a meniscus lesion. More than half of respondents reported waiting times for physiotherapy of over two weeks. Conclusion Therapeutic exercises dominate as a form of prescription and are already prescribed in isolation in greater numbers than the guideline treatment values in the German catalogue of therapies after ACL ruptures. Long waiting times and limited availability pose challenges to ensuring that the prescribed sessions can be used.