title: Does Extended Preoperative Rehabilitation Influence Outcomes 2 Years After ACL Reconstruction? A Comparative Effectiveness Study Between the MOON and Delaware-Oslo ACL Cohorts.
abstract: Rehabilitation before anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) is effective at improving postoperative outcomes at least in the short term. Less is known about the effects of preoperative rehabilitation on functional outcomes and return-to-sport (RTS) rates 2 years after reconstruction.
  
  
  
  The purpose of this study was to compare functional outcomes 2 years after ACLR in a cohort that underwent additional preoperative rehabilitation, including progressive strengthening and neuromuscular training after impairments were resolved, compared with a nonexperimental cohort. We hypothesized that the cohort treated with extended preoperative rehabilitation would have superior functional outcomes 2 years after ACLR.
  
  
  
  Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
  
  
  
  This study compared outcomes after an ACL rupture in an international cohort (Delaware-Oslo ACL Cohort [DOC]) treated with extended preoperative rehabilitation, including neuromuscular training, to data from the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) cohort, which did not undergo extended preoperative rehabilitation. Inclusion and exclusion criteria from the DOC were applied to the MOON database to extract a homogeneous sample for comparison. Patients achieved knee impairment resolution before ACLR, and postoperative rehabilitation followed each cohort's respective criterion-based protocol. Patients completed the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at enrollment and again 2 years after ACLR. RTS rates were calculated for each cohort at 2 years.
  
  
  
  After adjusting for baseline IKDC and KOOS scores, the DOC patients showed significant and clinically meaningful differences in IKDC and KOOS scores 2 years after ACLR. There was a significantly higher (P < .001) percentage of DOC patients returning to preinjury sports (72%) compared with those in the MOON cohort (63%).
  
  
  
  The cohort treated with additional preoperative rehabilitation consisting of progressive strengthening and neuromuscular training, followed by a criterion-based postoperative rehabilitation program, had greater functional outcomes and RTS rates 2 years after ACLR. Preoperative rehabilitation should be considered as an addition to the standard of care to maximize functional outcomes after ACLR.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA mfailla@udel.edu.
authors.forename: Mathew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Failla
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA Department of Physical Therapy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Logerstedt
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Research Center for Active Rehabilitation, Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hege
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grindem
authors.affiliation: First State Orthopedics, Newark, Delaware, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Axe
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Research Center for Active Rehabilitation, Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: May Arna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Risberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Engebretsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Huston
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Kurt P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Spindler
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Snyder-Mackler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009985:Orthopedics; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery; D013177:Sports; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ACL reconstruction; knee; outcomes; prehabilitation; rehabilitation; return to sport