Futsal Player Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most common knee injuries in sports. This research provide a scientific basis for the rehabilitation protocol after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and present a subject experiences in the rehabilitation process after surgery, using futsal specific exercises with the purpose of returning in 6 months to sport activity. The subject which was tested is 18-years-old male, futsal player with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with a hamstrings autograft. The rehabilitation protocol spans over a 6 month period and was divided into 4 phases [table1], for a total of about 288 sessions. The rehabilitation protocol it started a 7 day after surgery, at a rate of 2 sessions a day, 6 days a week The goals and exercise for each phase involve: range of motion (ROM), flexibility, normalizing gait, activation of the quadriceps muscle, strength and endurance, proprioception, cardiovascular fitness, specific technical and tactical futsal skills. The criteria for each phase progression were evaluated with Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). This study case suggests a high rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction, the key elements in the rehabilitation program is specificity goal and exercises of futsal game, performed in a individual and team training. Organizing the rehabilitation protocol with addressability and specificity of futsal exercises is necessary to speed up recovery.