Objective Criteria for Return to Athletics After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Subsequent Reinjury Rates: A Systematic Review

Few objective functional criteria are used to determine when patients return to unrestricted sports activities. Clinically feasible recommendations are made for measurement of muscle strength, lower limb symmetry, lower limb neuromuscular control, and ligament function in patients who desire to return to athletics after ACL reconstruction. Future studies are required to determine whether the demonstration of normal lower limb function before return to sports is effective in reducing reinjury rates.