Preferred Social Media Platform for Rehabilitation Education Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Designing effective digital rehabilitation educational content requires alignment between platform functionality and the patient's digital behavior. However, there is limited evidence regarding the platforms selected for structured rehabilitation education following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Therefore, this study aimed to identify the social media platforms (SMPs) preferred by patients who underwent ACLR to guide the design of digital educational rehabilitation strategies in Saudi Arabia.

From November 2024 to January 2025, 186 participants (83.3% men) who met the following inclusion criteria were included: aged 18 years or older, underwent ACLR surgery, used more than one SMP, were currently undergoing or had completed ACLR rehabilitation, and responded to an online survey shared by their physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation clinics. The participants' responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cochran's Q test, and chi-square tests.

Preferences for SMP use differed significantly (p < 0.001), with most participants preferring Snapchat (61.3%). Men demonstrated higher use of Snapchat and TikTok compared with women (p < 0.05); however, no significant differences were observed across age groups and frequency of platform use. Video-based content was the most frequently preferred format (86.6%, 161/186), with chi-square analysis showing a significant association with preference for Snapchat (p < 0.001).

These findings indicate that patients undergoing rehabilitation following ACLR prefer video-based educational content on Snapchat. These findings suggest that future educational strategies should explore the use of Snapchat to deliver brief, engaging, and culturally tailored rehabilitation materials. Future research should evaluate whether platform-aligned education can improve engagement and rehabilitation outcomes.