ACL Blogs

Nicky van Melick A, U or zigzag? Athletes with ACL reconstruction follow three major psychological patterns: Results from a retrospective evaluation of a local ACL register Traditionally, the emotions experienced by athletes after ACL reconstruction are described as linear or U-shaped. This already suggests that these emotional trajectories may vary between athletes. How athletes cope [...]

Nicky van Melick Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction rehabilitation: decades of change Several rehabilitation guidelines for athletes with an ACL reconstruction have been published over the past decades. However, as new literature continues to emerge, there is an ongoing need to update these guidelines. The current guidelines lack advice on three key elements of rehabilitation: open-chain [...]

My name is Luis Escudero. For over 10 years, I have been fortunate to work as a physiotherapist in the field of football, and for the last five years, in professional football. During this time, I have gained hands-on experience in managing and rehabilitating musculoskeletal and sports injuries, particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. This [...]

Bram Swinnen | Mikołaj Stańczak | Jakub Surmacz This work highlights the importance of approaching ACL injuries as a neurophysiological injury, not just as a structural one. The neurophysiology of ACL injury extends beyond the mechanical rupture of the ligament to encompass profound alterations in the central and peripheral nervous systems, impacting sensorimotor integration and neuromuscular control. [...]

Mikołaj Stańczak Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Hidden in the Complex Sensorimotor System ACL injuries present significant challenges in sports medicine, particularly in restoring knee joint function and preventing further complications like subsequent injuries or post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Traditional rehabilitation techniques, which often rely on pre-planned exercises and standardized assessments, may not adequately prepare athletes for [...]

“Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Transforming Injury and ACL Rehabilitation” My name is Luis Escudero. For over 10 years, I have been fortunate to work as a physiotherapist in the field of football, and for the last five years, in professional football. During this time, I have gained hands-on experience in managing and [...]

Nicky van Melick | Tim Sayer Is it time to develop specific return to running criteria for ACL rehabilitation? An international survey of physiotherapists criteria for return to running following ACL injury. Return to running too quickly after anterior cruciate ligament surgery can negatively affect long term knee health. Since it’s unclear which criteria should be [...]

Wouter Welling Return to sports after an ACL reconstruction in 2024 – A glass half full? A narrative review A successful return to sports (RTS) after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is multifactorial, and therefore difficult and challenging. Over the past years, test batteries were developed to assess whether patients can RTS with a [...]

Nicky van Melick | Rob Bogie Reference values for quadriceps and hamstrings strength & double- and single-leg jump tests During rehabilitation of athletes after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), the operated leg is often compared to the non-operated leg when performing strength and jump tests. This helps to determine whether it is safe for [...]

Nicky van Melick, Rob Jansen & Rob Bogie Influence of female sex and double-quadruple semitendinosus-gracilis graft on the incidence of postoperative symptomatic cyclops lesions after ACL reconstruction. Risk factors for developing a cyclops lesion after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are still unclear. Therefore, we investigated which factors contribute to this. In total, we reviewed [...]

Mathias Thoelen | www.thebfrpros.com Blood Flow Restriction Training in ACL Rehab – It’s not if, It’s when! “You should begin high-quality rehabilitation immediately after an ACL injury”, as earlier stated in a blog post. Everyone with an ACL injury experiences early loss in muscle mass and muscle strength. So the first phase is crucial!  Can we [...]

Isokinetic hamstring and quadriceps strength interpretation guideline for football (soccer) players with ACL reconstruction: a delphi consensus study in the Netherlands ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors thank FC Kruisband and the FC Kruisband network for their support and cooperation in expert selection and recruitment. Jiska Kempen PT PhD, product specialist motion analysis, is acknowledged for her valuable [...]