Background: Physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation is critical to successful outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Later-stage rehabilitation, including sport-specific exercises, is increasingly recognized for restoring high-level knee function. However, supervised PT visits have historically been concentrated during the early stages of recovery after ACLR.
Purpose/hypothesis: To assess the number and temporal utilization of PT visits after ACLR in a national cohort. We hypothesized that PT visits would be concentrated early in the postoperative period.
Study design: Descriptive epidemiological study.
Methods: The Humana PearlDiver database was searched to identify patients who underwent ACLR between 2007 and 2017. Patients with additional structures treated were excluded. The mean ± SD, median and interquartile range (IQR), and range of number of PT visits for each patient were determined for the 52 weeks after ACLR. PT visits over time were also assessed in relation to patient age and sex.
Results: In total, 11,518 patients who underwent ACLR met the inclusion criteria; the mean age was 32.62 ± 13.70 years, and 42.7% were female patients. Of this study cohort, 10,381 (90.4%) had documented PT postoperatively; the range of PT visits was 0 to 121. On average, patients had 16.90 ± 10.60 PT visits (median [IQR], 16 [9-22]) after ACLR. Patients completed a mean of 52% of their PT visits in the first 6 weeks, 75% in the first 10 weeks, and 90% in the first 16 weeks after surgery. Patients aged 10 to 19 years had the highest number of PT visits (mean ± SD, 19.67 ± 12.09; median [IQR], 18 [12-25]), significantly greater than other age groups (P < .001).
Conclusion: PT after ACLR is concentrated in the early postoperative period. Physicians, therapists, and patients may consider adjusting the limited access to PT to optimize patient recovery.
Clinical relevance: As supervised PT visits may be limited, the appropriate temporal utilization of supervised PT visits must be maximized. Strategies to ensure sessions for later neuromuscular and activity-specific rehabilitation are needed.
Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; physical therapy; rehabilitation; return to sport.
© The Author(s) 2021.