Which Outcome Measures Should Be Used to Determine Readiness to Play After ACL Reconstruction?

Clinical Scenario: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are associated with a lengthy recovery time, decreased performance, and an increased rate of reinjury. To improve performance of the injured knee, affected athletes often undergo surgical reconstruction and rehabilitation. Determining when an athlete is ready to safely return to play (RTP), however, can be challenging for clinicians. Although various outcome measures have been recommended, their ability to predict a safe RTP is questionable. Focused Clinical Question: Which outcome measures should be used to determine readiness to return to play after ACL reconstruction?