Ronnie Barnes PFATS Educational Series: What’s New in ACL Reconstruction: Surgical Interventions, Rehabilitation and Return-to-Sport Testing

Abstract:
Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament occurs to athletes across the spectrum of skill levels and age ranges. Athletic trainers should be aware of the available surgical interventions and rehabilitation protocols associated with a full return to previous functional capacity and activity level. This presentation will cover contemporary rehabilitation concepts used in professional football with the intent of having them transferable to any patient under the care of an athletic trainer. Evidence based return to activity parameters based on traditional strength testing, functional testing and performance measures with the intent of optimizing outcomes will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Outline the phases of rehabilitation following ACL surgery emphasizing the goals and interventions in each phase from initial recovery to functional training.
• Discuss the specific tests and criteria used to determine readiness for return to sport post-ACL reconstruction, including functional and performance measures.
• Evaluate current research and evidence-based practices related to surgical techniques, rehabilitation protocols and return to sport testing to optimize patient outcomes.

Level:
Advanced

Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention 
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility

Orthopedic Domain(s):
N/A

CEUs:
1.0 Category A

Keywords:
Anterior cruciate ligament; reconstruction; return-to-sport testing

In order to earn your CEUs, you must watch the session video in its entirety and complete the assessment.

Course Expiration: 
All sessions of the NATA 76th Symposia On-Demand must be completed by October 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.