Effects of Prehabilitation on Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Critically Appraised Topic
Date
3-6-2026
Faculty Mentor
Chris Clark, Kinesiology
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Submission Type
Conference Proceeding
Location
2:30-2:40pm | Merrill Hall
Description
Context: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in athletes often require surgery followed by a lengthy rehabilitation process. In some cases, there is a delay from the time of injury to the time the athlete can have their surgery. Immobilization has been the most common way to protect the joint during the waiting period. There is research showing that “prehabilitation,” can better prepare athletes for surgery and improve recovery. This critically appraised topic examined whether prehabilitation prior to ACL reconstruction leads to improved postoperative strength, range of motion (ROM), functional outcomes, and return-to-play (RTP) timelines when compared to immobilization or no structured preoperative intervention.
Methods: A computerized search was completed in October 2025. The search terms used were “ACL reconstruction”, “Prehabilitation”, “Athlete” “College”, and “Return to Sport”. Electronic databases used were PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria: Articles published between 2020-2025 and in the English Language. Exclusion criteria: Studies that included non-surgical patients, previous injuries, or animal populations. Validity of the selected studies was determined using the SPIRIT, SANRA, AMSTAR-2, CARE, and PRISMA checklists. One author independently reviewed the studies, scored each paper, and reviewed the completed appraisals to come to a consensus on the study quality.
Results: The literature search retrieved 212 total articles and 207 were excluded based on the inclusion criteria, resulting in five studies. A majority of research claims that an athlete that performs prehabilitation will have a faster healing time, along with increased strength, functional ability of the knee after surgery, and faster return to play time when compared to patients that did not perform prehabilitation. Although this area of research is still in its early stages and further investigation is warranted, no adverse effects have been identified in the studies conducted to date.
Conclusions: Prehabilitation is a safe and effective process that will better prepare athletes for postoperative recovery . Engaging in rehabilitation prior to surgical reconstruction has been associated with improvements in strength, range of motion, and neuromuscular function throughout the rehabilitation process and into the post-recovery phase. These findings suggest that targeted prehabilitation can meaningfully enhance recovery outcomes. Importantly, prehabilitation does not require advanced technology or expensive equipment; rather, its primary goals are to restore range of motion and maintain neuromuscular activation to prevent excessive muscle deconditioning. While additional high-quality research is warranted, current evidence supports the use of prehabilitation over immobilization when clinically appropriate.
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The original presentation of the paper Effects of Prehabilitation on Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Critically Appraised Topic was given at the Student Research Symposium on 6 March; this video is from the Student Research Symposium Awards Ceremony held 16 March 2026 at Merrill Hall Auditorium.
This paper won Best in Category (Graduate) for Best Paper/Presentation
Keywords
student research, kinesiology
Rights
This content is the property of Jacksonville State University and is intended for non-commercial use. Video and images may be copied for personal use, research, teaching or any "fair use" as defined by copyright law. Users are asked to acknowledge Jacksonville State University. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@jsu.edu.
Disciplines
Kinesiotherapy
Recommended Citation
Johnson, David, "Effects of Prehabilitation on Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Critically Appraised Topic" (2026). JSU Student Symposium 2026. 2.
https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2026/2