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Return to Play Considerations After Patellar Instability

  • Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation: Getting Athletes Back to Play (R Gallo, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To discuss the treatment options and rehabilitation protocols after non-operative and operative treatment of patellar instability, and to discuss expected return to play outcomes and functional performance with non-operative and operative treatment of patellar instability.

Recent Findings

A criterion-based program assessing range of motion, joint effusion, strength, neuromuscular control, proprioception, agility, and power are critical measures to assess when rehabilitating this population. A series of functional tests including quadriceps strength testing, single-limb hop testing, lateral step-down test, the side hop test, the lateral leap and catch test, the Y-balance test, and the depth jump should be considered when determining an athlete’s return to sport clearance. These objective measures combined with psychological readiness and a comprehensive understanding of the sports-specific tasks required for participation should be considered when evaluating an athlete’s ability to safely and successfully return to sport.

Summary

We discuss rehabilitation management when working with non-operative and operative management of patellar instability and provide considerations for clinicians working with these athletes to facilitate safe return to sport.

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  1. Sports Physical Therapy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Rachel E. Lampros

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 175 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Miho J. Tanaka

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Lampros, R.E., Tanaka, M.J. Return to Play Considerations After Patellar Instability. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 15, 597–605 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-022-09792-1

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