Anterior Cruciate Ligament Knee Injury in Footballer: Postoperative Rehabilitation and Return to Play - A Case Study.

Abstract

Rehabilitation of footballers aims to be able to return to play football and compete safely. The intensive rehabilitation program has been continuously improved in research but, there are still limitations in the selection of the case study that only one ligament and ligament injury are therefore reported. The case study of these two patients are a 28-year-old and 33-year-old male footballer, respectively. Both anterior cruciate ligament injuries of his left knee. Undergoing an arthroscopic surgery to reconstruct anterior cruciate ligament from semitendinosus and gracilis tendon. Both patients received physical therapy after surgery for 6 months before being able to return to the football field. Data collected includes the range of knee movement. Muscle grade testing and usability. Both patients were able to walk normally and 0-90 degrees of knee movement after 6 weeks of surgery. Train strength knee muscles and run straight after surgery 8-12 weeks. After that, practice to increase speed and change direction of running after 16-20 weeks after surgery and to practice football on the field. Postoperative 24 weeks both patients can return to play football as before.