Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40950565›Full record

ArticleThe South African journal of physiotherapy2025

Postoperative anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation: A survey in Gauteng, South Africa.

Colett Robbertse, Vaneshveri Naidoo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The South African journal of physiotherapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Colett RobbertseDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9465-8697
Vaneshveri NaidooDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4513-8666

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Post-operative rehabilitation is key to successful outcomes in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. This study aimed to determine the management strategies (accelerated vs. non-accelerated protocols) and treatment modalities used by physiotherapists for post-operative ACL rehabilitation in Gauteng, South Africa. Objectives: This study determined the frequency of accelerated and non-accelerated protocols, identified rehabilitation objectives, commonly used physiotherapy modalities and exercise recommendations within the first 6 weeks of post-operative ACL rehabilitation. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out between 15 December 2021 and 27 May 2022, using a custom-designed questionnaire. The survey was initially distributed to members of the South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP) and Physiotherapy Association of South Africa (PASA), as well as shared on social media platforms. Data collection was completed in 6 months. Descriptive statistics (frequencies means and percentages) were analysed. Results: Out of 120 responses received, 47% (56) were analysed. Management strategies included the accelerated and non-accelerated programmes: 70% (39) of the participants used the accelerated protocol and 23% (13) used the non-accelerated protocol. Furthermore, 59% used protective bracing as part of their management and 66% (37) started rehabilitation post-operatively. Treatment modalities used included myofascial release (75%, 41), peripheral joint mobilisation (63%, 35), massage (57%, 32) and cryotherapy (34%, 19). Conclusion: Remarkable variation was found in treatment protocols, modalities and exercise prescription. Clinical implications: Using clinical evaluation, objective outcome measures and functional tests as an objective criterion is crucial in decision-making regarding return to function and sport.

Indexed as

ACL rehabilitationACL rehabilitation management strategiesACL rehabilitation modalitiesACL rehabilitation protocolspost-operative ACL rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID40950565
PMCPMC12424474

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.