A Return to Performance Continuum for Football (Soccer) Players After ACL Reconstruction: Bridging Rehabilitation, Return to Play and Sustained Performance

IF 11 1区医学 Q1 SPORT SCIENCES

Sports Medicine Pub Date : 2026-09-30 DOI:10.1007/s40279-026-02543-z

Matthew Buckthorpe,Paul Read,Eric Hamrin Senorski,Alessandro Compagnin,Stefano Di Paolo,Francesco Della Villa

{"title":"A Return to Performance Continuum for Football (Soccer) Players After ACL Reconstruction: Bridging Rehabilitation, Return to Play and Sustained Performance","authors":"Matthew Buckthorpe,Paul Read,Eric Hamrin Senorski,Alessandro Compagnin,Stefano Di Paolo,Francesco Della Villa","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02543-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in football (soccer) players is associated with high return-to-competition rates but persistent deficits in performance and elevated risk of secondary injury. Whilst rehabilitation frameworks have evolved to optimise early, mid-, and late-stage recovery, limited guidance exists regarding the structured transition from typical return-to-sport clearance to sustained return-to-performance (RTP erf ). Failure to adequately bridge this gap may contribute to early re-injury, suppressed match performance and compromised career longevity. This paper outlines a staged RTP erf continuum comprising: (1) structured on-field rehabilitation, (2) return to team training, (3) return to competitive match play and (4) early and sustained RTP erf. Four interdependent pillars underpin this process: (i) the restoration of movement quality under realistic football specific situations; (ii) progressive football-specific technical and tactical re-training; (iii) football-specific physical reconditioning including speed, acceleration, deceleration and change of direction ability, endurance and chronic workload development and (iv) maximal strength and explosive neuromuscular performance restoration.","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0000,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Sports Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02543-z","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"SPORT SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in football (soccer) players is associated with high return-to-competition rates but persistent deficits in performance and elevated risk of secondary injury. Whilst rehabilitation frameworks have evolved to optimise early, mid-, and late-stage recovery, limited guidance exists regarding the structured transition from typical return-to-sport clearance to sustained return-to-performance (RTP erf ). Failure to adequately bridge this gap may contribute to early re-injury, suppressed match performance and compromised career longevity. This paper outlines a staged RTP erf continuum comprising: (1) structured on-field rehabilitation, (2) return to team training, (3) return to competitive match play and (4) early and sustained RTP erf. Four interdependent pillars underpin this process: (i) the restoration of movement quality under realistic football specific situations; (ii) progressive football-specific technical and tactical re-training; (iii) football-specific physical reconditioning including speed, acceleration, deceleration and change of direction ability, endurance and chronic workload development and (iv) maximal strength and explosive neuromuscular performance restoration.

查看原文本刊更多论文

前交叉韧带重建后足球运动员恢复连续表现：桥接康复、恢复比赛和持续表现

足球运动员的前交叉韧带重建（ACLR）与高比赛恢复率有关，但持续的表现缺陷和继发性损伤的风险增加。虽然康复框架已经发展到优化早期、中期和后期的恢复，但关于从典型的恢复到运动间隙到持续的恢复到表现（RTP erf）的结构化过渡，存在有限的指导。如果不能充分弥补这一差距，可能会导致早期再次受伤，抑制比赛表现，降低职业生涯寿命。本文概述了阶段性的RTP erf连续体，包括：(1)有组织的现场康复，(2)回归团队训练，(3)回归竞技比赛，(4)早期和持续的RTP erf。四个相互依存的支柱支撑着这一过程：(i)在现实的足球特定情况下恢复运动质量；（ii）循序渐进的足球技战术再训练；（iii）足球特有的体能恢复，包括速度、加速、减速和方向改变能力、耐力和慢性工作量的发展；（iv）最大力量和爆炸性神经肌肉表现的恢复。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Sports Medicine 医学-运动科学

CiteScore

18.40

自引率

5.10%

发文量

165

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Sports Medicine focuses on providing definitive and comprehensive review articles that interpret and evaluate current literature, aiming to offer insights into research findings in the sports medicine and exercise field. The journal covers major topics such as sports medicine and sports science, medical syndromes associated with sport and exercise, clinical medicine's role in injury prevention and treatment, exercise for rehabilitation and health, and the application of physiological and biomechanical principles to specific sports. Types of Articles: Review Articles: Definitive and comprehensive reviews that interpret and evaluate current literature to provide rationale for and application of research findings. Leading/Current Opinion Articles: Overviews of contentious or emerging issues in the field. Original Research Articles: High-quality research articles. Enhanced Features: Additional features like slide sets, videos, and animations aimed at increasing the visibility, readership, and educational value of the journal's content. Plain Language Summaries: Summaries accompanying articles to assist readers in understanding important medical advances. Peer Review Process: All manuscripts undergo peer review by international experts to ensure quality and rigor. The journal also welcomes Letters to the Editor, which will be considered for publication.