The Effect of Hydrotherapy on Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Post-Surgery Rehabilitation

Abstract

The research paper at hand discusses three different clinical scenarios involving the use of aquatic therapy (the same thing as hydrotherapy) as part of non-surgical treatment for individuals with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury (in this instance with varying degrees) in that it provides insight into how effective this method was as it pertains to conservative rehabilitation of individuals with an ACL injury. The three participants in this study were all in the 18 to 22 year age range, and each of them experienced a different degree of an ACL injury from a Grade I/II ACL sprain to a significant/total rupture. The length of time that they were involved in rehabilitation ranged from 3 to 8 months (for the moderate and severe participants respectively) and the number of prescribed rehabilitation sessions ranged from 12 to 35 sessions (for the same two participants respectively).

Despite their varying degrees of injury, all three participants made an excellent recovery, and were cleared for return to their previous level of athletic performance (normal or competitive). At every stage of rehabilitation in each participant's process, hydrotherapy was a modality utilized throughout, whether it was during the early stages of pain and swelling control, or later on in neuromuscular and plyometric training. The various protocols provided herein can be considered a useful, evidence based guide when conducting conservative treatment for individuals with ACL injuries.