Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Early Weight-Bearing Rehabilitation Protocol After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Published on: March 1, 2024
Examining longitudinal changes in physical activity from 6 to 9 months after adolescent ACL reconstruction using the
Adam P Weaver1, Shelby E Baez2, Jordan Scott Rodu3
1Department of Sports Physical Therapy, Connecticut Children's, Farmington, CT, USA; Department of Orthopedics, Connecticut Children's, Farmington, CT, USA.
Objectives:
The ACL Reasons is validated to characterize barriers to physical activity (PA) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Understanding how perceptions of PA change after ACLR can improve patient-centered care.
Design:
Cross-Sectional.
Setting:
Academic sports medicine centers.
Participants:
125 adolescent patients after primary ACLR (15.9 ± 1.7years; 45.6% female).
Main Outcome Measures:
Participants completed the ACL Reasons at 6.4 ± 0.6 months and 9.5 ± 0.9 months post-ACLR. Individuals were categorized as 'as active', 'more challenging', and 'less active' at both time points. Activity groups were compared based on demographics and patient-reported outcome measures using one-way ANOVA and change in activity status was characterized using the Stuart-Maxwell test.
Results:
24.8% of participants were 'as active' as prior to injury 6 months after ACLR and 51.2% of participants were 'as active' as prior to injury at 9 months after ACLR. When grouped by activity level, there were no differences by age or sex. The pattern of change of activity level differed based on activity group at the 6 month assessment (p < .001).
Conclusions:
Patient-reported PA categories improve from 6-to-9 months, but 50% of patients remain less active or find activity more challenging at 9 months. Age and sex did not impact perceptions of PA.
