Progressive Rehabilitation of a Professional Soccer Player After an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Phase 1: Clinical Perspective with Video Demonstration

In this validation clinical case report, which was supported with videos and based on the KNGF evidence statement for ACL reconstruction rehabilitation, we outline the successful rehabilitation of a Romanian first-division soccer player who sustained an ACL rupture and meniscal tear during competition in the 2012–2013 season. The ligament was reconstructed with an autologous hamstrings graft, and partial meniscectomy was performed. The player returned to the same level of competition in 7 months and has remained at that level, free of knee injury, to the present (6 years later). We have found that it is more appropriate to incorporate functional goal-based criteria in the rehabilitation protocol than to use time-based protocols.³  Therefore, the duration of each phase was based on this player's rehabilitation process.

Based on the postoperative mechanical loading progressive phase 1 (3 weeks) as proposed by the KNGF (Table 1), we proposed the following progression of exercises in each level in addition to daily physiotherapy care.

To achieve the proposed objectives with respect to body functions and structures, our criterion was to start with seated, active knee flexion-extension in combination with electrostimulation, heel slides to improve knee flexion, and the legs straightened at the end of extension (see Supplemental Video 1, available online at http:dx.doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-164-21.S1) during the first 5 days of postoperative rehabilitation, progressing from 2 to 4 sets. (Table 2). We then used the same exercise in a horizontal closed kinetic chain (CKC) manner with manual grips that allowed the player to autonomously improve knee flexion (Supplemental Video 2) during the next 5 days of postoperative rehabilitation, advancing from 2 to 4 sets (Tables 2 and 3). Near the end of this phase, we introduced the same exercise in vertical CKC fashion with a FitBALL (Ball Dynamics) on the back that allowed the athlete to continue improving knee flexion (Supplemental Video 3) during the last 11 days of this phase, progressing from 2 to 4 sets during the first 5 days and alternating 2 and 4 sets during the last 6 days (Tables 3 and 4). We used electrostimulation because, when combined with conventional rehabilitation, it may be more effective for improving muscle strength in the first phase of ACL rehabilitation⁴  while not affecting gains in knee extension and flexion or inducing pain or effusion.³  We prescribed these exercises in 3.5-minute repetitions (reps), which is the recommended duration for improving muscle strength. Recovery time between sets was 5 minutes, so we used this interval for concentric and eccentric strength training of the gluteal (Supplemental Video 4), adductor (Supplemental Video 5), and hamstrings muscles (Supplemental Video 6). At the end of this phase, we added the calf muscles (Supplemental Video 7). The progression in volume was from 2 times with 8 reps to 3 times with 10 reps, combined with a gradual load increase from very low to medium and 3 to 5 minutes of rest between sets (Tables 2, 3, and 4).

To achieve the proposed objectives in the level of activities and participation (Table 1), we pursued immediate weight bearing⁵  to allow an early start on volitionally controlled center-of-mass movements with a progression of exercises in the anterior-posterior (Supplemental Videos 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12), lateral (Supplemental Videos 13 and 14), and diagonal (Supplemental Videos 15 and 16) directions, which favored loading the affected leg in the correct gait pattern with no pain, effusion, or increase in temperature during walking or shortly after walking³  and with a gradual increase in velocity displacement from very low to medium, with 3 to 5 minutes of rest between sets (Tables 2, 3, and 4). Once the wound had closed, we prescribed water exercises 3 to 4 times a week with mobility exercises that included perturbations, training 1 leg for longer periods, increasing difficulty, and beginning backward movements (Supplemental Videos 17, 18, and 19)³  with a progressive increase in velocity displacement from low to medium and 3 to 5 minutes of rest between sets (Tables 3 and 4).

No clear guidelines exist regarding the recommended quantity and quality of movement during postoperative ACL reconstruction rehabilitation.³  Based on the criteria proposed by the KNGF (Table 1), our recommendations for starting phase 2 are as follows: (1) knee extension at 0° measured in CKC manner (Supplemental Video 20), (2) knee flexion of at least 120° to 130° measured in CKC fashion (Supplemental Video 21), and (3) correct qualitative performance of walking (Supplemental Video 22). At the end of the first week of postoperative rehabilitation, the athlete achieved 5° of knee extension and 145° of knee flexion (Figure 1). During the second week, he accomplished the objectives of this phase with 0° of knee extension and 120° of knee flexion, having previously attained 0° of knee extension and 100° of knee flexion.

The KNGF evidence statement is an efficient guide for the first phase of ACL reconstruction rehabilitation in a professional soccer player. The proposed objectives during this first phase of the rehabilitation are appropriate for the circumstances and correspond to the biological and personal needs of the professional soccer athlete. Nevertheless, it makes more sense to progress based on the achievement of functional goal-based criteria in the rehabilitation protocol than to use time-based protocols.

Supplemental Videos. Video Demonstrations. Found at DOI: http:dx.doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-164-21.S1