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. 2016 Dec;11(7):1177-1190.

POST OPERATIVE REHABILITATION OF GRADE III MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT INJURIES: EVIDENCE BASED REHABILITATION AND RETURN TO PLAY

Catherine A Logan  1 , Luke T O'Brien  2 , Robert F LaPrade
Affiliations

POST OPERATIVE REHABILITATION OF GRADE III MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT INJURIES: EVIDENCE BASED REHABILITATION AND RETURN TO PLAY

Catherine A Logan et al. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

The medial collateral ligament is the most commonly injured ligament of the knee, with injury generally sustained in the athletic population as a result of valgus contact with or without tibial external rotation. The capacity of the medial collateral ligament to heal has been demonstrated in both laboratory and clinical studies; however, complete ruptures heal less consistently and may result in persistent instability. When operative intervention is deemed necessary, anatomical medial knee reconstruction is recommended. Post-operative rehabilitation focuses on early motion and the return of normal neuromuscular firing patterns with progression based on attainment of specific phase criteria and goals. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to discuss the determinants of phase progression and the importance of objectively assessing readiness for advancement that is consistent with post-operative healing. Additional tests and validated measures to assess readiness for sport are also presented.

Level of evidence: 5.

Keywords: Medial knee; medial collateral ligament; periodization; reconstruction; rehabilitation; return to sport.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Photograph of a knee, demonstrating the VMO, MPFL, AT, MGT, and sMCL. VMO, vastus medialis oblique; MPFL, medial patellofemoral ligament; AT, adductor tubercle; MGT, medial gastrocnemius tendon; sMCL, superficial medial collateral ligament.
Figure 2A, 2B.
Figure 2A, 2B.
The Y-Balance Test™ (YBT), a functional test performed to evaluate functional symmetry and performance, as well as assess risk for injury.
Figure 3A, 3B.
Figure 3A, 3B.
The Vail Sport Test™, a return to sports assessment that incorporates a series of dynamic multiplanar functional activities against the resistance of a sports cord.
Figure 4A, 4B.
Figure 4A, 4B.
The modified agility T-test focuses on identifying side-to-side deficits in multiplanar cutting and agility tasks.
Figure 5A, 5B.
Figure 5A, 5B.
The single leg hop series, a commonly employed functional performance measure used to capture limb asymmetries following knee surgery.
None
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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