Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation: A Review

Rehabilitation is crucial in the treatment of ACL injuries, particularly in the pediatric population. Children are often eager to return to their pre-injury level of athletic participation, which may place them at risk for re-injury if rehabilitation protocols are not adequately followed. Contemporary protocols incorporate functional benchmarks rather than solely time-based milestones to better evaluate if patients have adequate strength and function to return to sport activities. Optimization of rehabilitation can lead to safer return to play and minimize the risk of re-injury. Ultimately, successful rehabilitation requires effective communication between the entire care team, including the patient, family, therapist, coaches, trainers, and orthopaedic surgeon in order to optimize recovery from injury. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-11.asp].