Professional paper
Importance of knee functional stability in prevention and rehabilitation after acl injuries at athletes
Sanda Dubravčić-Šimunjak
; Zavod za fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju, KB „Sveti Duh“, Zagreb
Toni Petrović
; Poliklinika Patela, Poliklinika za ortopediju, Zagreb
Petra Hodak
; Dom zdravlja Centar, Zagreb
Tena Šimunjak
; Zavod za otorinolaringologiju i kirurgiju glave i vrata, KB „Sveti Duh“, Zagreb
Antun Jurinić
; Zavod za fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju, KB „Sveti Duh“, Zagreb
Katarina Ivanković
; Zavod za fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju, KB „Sveti Duh“, Zagreb
Dubravko Boranić
; Zavod za fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju, KB „Sveti Duh“, Zagreb
Abstract
The anterior cruciate ligament injury is a knee injury which appears due to intensive physical strain and stress during sports activities, most frequently suffered by athletes. LCA (lat. ligament cruciatum anterius) is the key knee structure for restraining its functional stability and balanced biomechanics. Not only, the LCA injury is not rare, but it also represents one of the most severe acute injuries in sports. Therefore, it has become a common topic for many research studies. Women, due to numerous anatomical and hormonal factors, are at a higher risk for this injury, while research has shown that some of the most common contactless injury mechanisms are sudden stops, direction changes or harsh landings. The treatment for LCA injury can be conservative and operative. Athletes, who are under a lot of physical pressure during training or competing, mostly choose surgical treatment that is followed by a long and demanding rehabilitation process involving specialists, physiotherapists and a
team of experts taking care of the patient’s health. The final outcome of whole treatment depends on the athlete’s motivation. The aim of the acute rehabilitation phase process is oedema and hematoma reduction, gradual range of motion retrieve and adequate quadriceps muscle activation. The initial phase is followed by progressive strengthening training of every muscle involved in functional knee stability, proprioception, balance, and stability exercises, exercises that involve the speed of muscle activation process and athlete’s sport specific exercises, to ensure the best possible return to sport. Regardless of the prescribed guidelines and protocols for rehabilitation and prevention of an LCA injury, the treatment is focused on an individual approach to every case. The return to regular trainings and competitions is estimated to be between 6 and 9 months after the injury, but the newest research findings show that in some cases, depending on the athlete, the sport, and the athlete’s reaction
to the treatment, require a significantly longer recovery process. To minimize the risk for the same injury, before the athlete returns to sports activities without restrictions, it is crucial to carry out an objective testing examination regarding the functional stability of the knee.
Keywords
anterior cruciate ligament, functional stability, rehabilitation, prevention, athletes
Hrčak ID:
277891
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2021.
Visits: 3.434 *