CONTEXT

Despite positive physical outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), many athletes do not return to sport afterward.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if there were differences between athletes who returned to play and those who did not return to sport after ACLR in patterns of psychological responses to injury over the latter course of rehabilitation and return to sport.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

Comprehensive orthopedic medical center referrals.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-nine recreational and competitive athletes (13 to 58 years, 21 males) with a first ACL tear were observed over the course of the study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Return to sport.

RESULTS

Fifty-two percent of participants returned to play by 9 months post-ACLR. Those who returned showed a linear decrease in reinjury anxiety from 4 to 9 months post-ACLR, whereas those who did not return showed a linear decrease from 4 to 6 months post-ACLR and then a leveling off from 6 to 9 months. Those who returned showed linear and quadratic effects on perceived limitations of ability with a decrease from 4 to 9 months post-ACLR that accelerated over time, whereas nonreturners showed a linear decrease over time. No significant differences were found between returners and nonreturners in knee self-efficacy, perceived percent recovery, and psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that reinjury anxiety and perceived limitations of ability are psychological constructs on which returners and nonreturners differ and therefore may be points of intervention to increase the likelihood of return to sport.