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The OJSM Hot Corner


Jun 12, 2024

Second ACL injuries, whether it be a tear of the ipsilateral ACL graft or the native contralateral ACL, continue to be of great concern to patients and sports medicine practitioners particularly during the first 1-2 years after surgery. Sending a patient back too early to play is widely considered a major risk factor for this 2nd injury. As health care providers, we take pride in the joy and confidence a patient expresses as he/she advances through a rehab process towards his/her goals. However, when it comes to ACL reconstruction rehab, overconfidence may put the patient at risk, and perhaps slow and steady wins the race. We welcome Dr. Takehiko Matsushita, MD, PhD from Kobe University in Japan to discuss his study investigating the relationship between psychological readiness to return to sport and the risk of a 2nd ACL injury. His findings show that the biggest favor we can do for a patient who accelerates through the ACL recovery period quickly and confidently may be to slow him/her down.