After surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, young athletes are now recommended to undergo at least a year’s rehab and thorough testing before resuming knee-strenuous sport. Research shows that those who return to sport relatively soon after surgery incur a highly elevated risk of a second ACL injury.
“What’s absolutely essential is to let the rehab take time. Every month’s wait represents a huge gain,” says Susanne Beischer, PhD student at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, who works as a clinical physical therapist.