Impact of COVID-19 Era on the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review

The surgical intervention rate and the subsequent rehabilitation plan for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury was crucially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the necessity in the face of the emergency. This review aimed to evaluate potential persistent and residual symptoms after COVID-19 disease, including fatigue and neuromuscular disorders. A scoping review design and methodology were used due to the exploratory nature of the research question, according to literature searches on PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) electronic databases using the following keywords: Anterior Cruciate Ligament, ACL, SARS-CoV-2, and COVID-19. Undertraining and muscular knee imbalance might cause inefficient movement strategies, lack of knee stability, and increasing load with negative implications in ACL injuries. In the post-surgery period, during COVID-19, telerehabilitation approaches appeared to be successfully applied to maintain strength and range of motion in this condition. However, no definitive data are available regarding the most effective interventions. This scoping review showed the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on postoperative and rehabilitative care of ACL injuries.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the surgical intervention and rehabilitation plan for ACL injuries. This scoping review examines the potential persistent symptoms and residual effects after COVID-19 disease, focusing on fatigue and neuromuscular disorders. Undertraining and knee muscular imbalance may lead to inefficient movement strategies, lack of knee stability, and increased load in ACL injuries. Telerehabilitation approaches have shown promise in maintaining strength and range of motion during the post-surgery period of COVID-19. However, further research is needed to determine the most effective interventions.