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Review
. 2025 Oct;33(10):3466-3477.
doi: 10.1002/ksa.12575. Epub 2025 Jan 3.

Sport-specific differences in ACL injury, treatment and return to sports: Basketball

Baris Kocaoglu  1   2   3   4 , Tahir Koray Yozgatli  2 , Thomas Tischer  5   6 , Julio Calleja-Gonzalez  4   7 , Francesco Cuzzolin  4   8 , Asheesh Bedi  9   10   11   12 , Romain Seil  13
Affiliations
Review

Sport-specific differences in ACL injury, treatment and return to sports: Basketball

Baris Kocaoglu et al. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2025 Oct.

Abstract

Basketball is an intense, fast-paced game that is physically, highly demanding. Certain aspects of the game, such as the quick pivoting and cutting movements, predispose the players to serious knee injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. While an ACL tear can be a devastating condition for players, multidisciplinary management of the injury can provide the players with a reasonable chance to return to play at the pre-injury level. This article aims to review the general principles and guidelines for the management of ACL injury in basketball players. The diagnosis, surgical treatment, rehabilitation and return to sports are discussed from European and North American perspectives. With a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to this condition, medical professionals can provide injured basketball players with a favourable prognosis for returning to play at the pre-injury level. To return to normal life and basketball after ACL reconstruction, the proposed approach includes (1) the selection of the appropriate surgical graft and technique, (2) maintaining a healthy and persistent mental state during rehabilitation, and (3) following a scientific rehabilitation programme based on personalized recovery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.

Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; basketball; knee injuries; sports injuries.

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References

REFERENCES

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