[Rehabilitation after cruciate ligament repair with the middle third of the patellar ligament in the athlete].

Rehabilitation of athletes following surgical reconstruction of complex instabilities of the knee joint focuses on four goals: 1. the restoration of ligament stability, 2. the restoration of muscular stabilisation ability, 3. the restoration of coordinative muscular function in sport specific kinesiology, 4. the retention and improvement of the general state of fitness. These aims can only be reached by a close cooperation between physician, physiotherapist, trainer, and coach. In order not to put the rehabilitation process at risk, everybody involved has to have knowledge about functional anatomy, surgical technique, and biology of the transplant as well as knowledge about the long duration thereof that cannot substantially be shortened by knee ortheses. No athlete should compete until he has demonstrated sufficient fitness, strength, and coordination for his sport under laboratory conditions.