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Medicina
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ACL: From Injury to Return to Sport
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ACL: From Injury to Return to Sport

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Medicine and Sports Traumatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 June 2026 | Viewed by 1429

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Marko Stojanović

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: strength and conditioning; injury prevention and rehabilitation; exercise testing; exercise prescription
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The management of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries has evolved significantly over the past decades, transitioning from purely surgical interventions to comprehensive, multimodal approaches integrating injury prevention, advanced reconstruction techniques, and personalized rehabilitation strategies. Despite advancements, the pathway from injury to peak athletic performance remains complex, with ongoing research aimed at optimizing outcomes and reducing re-injury rates. Understanding this continuum is crucial for clinicians, researchers, and athletes alike. This Special Issue aims to explore the complete journey of ACL injury management—from initial injury and surgical repair to rehabilitation, injury prevention, and the athlete’s return to peak performance. We seek to highlight innovative strategies, interdisciplinary approaches, and emerging technologies that contribute to improved outcomes, long-term athlete health, and performance sustainability. We are particularly interested in submissions that showcase the latest advancements in biomechanical analysis, neuromuscular training, regenerative medicine, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and personalized rehabilitation protocols. Contributions that provide new insights into injury risk assessment, injury prevention programs, and performance metrics are highly valued. We welcome a diverse range of submissions, including original research articles, comprehensive reviews, case studies, technical notes, etc. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: surgical innovations, rehabilitation methods, neuromuscular training, technological advancements in monitoring and assessment, long-term outcomes of different treatment approaches, and methodologies for optimizing athletic performance post-ACL injury. We encourage submissions that provide evidence-based insights, novel methodologies, and interdisciplinary approaches aimed at advancing both scientific understanding and clinical practice.

Prof. Dr. Marko Stojanović
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ACL
  • rehabilitation
  • neuromuscular training
  • return to sport
  • surgical techniques

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 636 KB  
Article
Squat Jump and Bilateral and Unilateral Countermovement Jump Performance in Soccer Players 6 and 9 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
by Nikola Andrić, Mladen Mikić, Damjan Jakšić, Slavko Molnar, Dejan Javorac and Vukadin Milankov
Medicina 2026, 62(5), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62050807 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 260
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The assessment of neuromuscular recovery after ACL reconstruction is crucial for safe return to sport (RTS) in professional soccer players. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to compare squat jump (SJ), bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ), and single-leg CMJ performance in three [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: The assessment of neuromuscular recovery after ACL reconstruction is crucial for safe return to sport (RTS) in professional soccer players. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to compare squat jump (SJ), bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ), and single-leg CMJ performance in three distinct groups: players at 6 months post-ACL reconstruction, players at 9 months post-ACL reconstruction, and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two male players (24 at 6 months post-ACL, 24 at 9 months post-ACL, 24 healthy controls) performed squat jump, bilateral countermovement jump, and single-leg CMJ tests using contact platforms following a controlled warm-up protocol. Results: Significant group differences were observed in all jump tests. At 6 months post-ACL reconstruction, players demonstrated significantly lower squat jump (45.13 ± 6.20 cm) and bilateral countermovement jump (49.67 ± 6.80 cm) heights compared to both 9-month players (SJ: 50.03 ± 5.30 cm; CMJ: 53.79 ± 4.85 cm) and controls (SJ: 51.12 ± 4.97 cm; CMJ: 55.49 ± 5.54 cm) (p ≤ 0.016, η2 = 0.187 and η2 = 0.156, respectively). No significant differences between 9-month and control groups were observed for the squat jump and the bilateral countermovement jump. Regarding the unilateral countermovement jump, the injured leg showed significant performance deficits compared to controls in both the 6-month and 9-month groups (p = 0.001, η2 = 0.378). However, the non-injured leg exhibited deficits only in the 6-month group. Conclusions: Compared to the 6-month post-ACL reconstruction group, the 9-month group showed a marked improvement in bilateral jump performance, indicating substantial neuromuscular recovery over time. However, persistent unilateral deficits in the injured leg remained even at 9 months, underscoring the need for a routine and comprehensive jumping evaluation to identify residual neuromuscular impairments that may require targeted rehabilitation before returning to sport. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ACL: From Injury to Return to Sport)
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12 pages, 473 KB  
Article
Limb Strength and Power Asymmetries in Professional Team Sport Athletes at Return-to-Sport Testing Following ACL Reconstruction
by Marko D. M. Stojanović, Nikola Andrić, Tatjana Jezdimirovic Stojanovic, Šime Veršić and Julio Calleja Gonzalez
Medicina 2026, 62(4), 654; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62040654 - 29 Mar 2026
Viewed by 623
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Present assessment methods have not effectively mitigated the risk of recurrent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury following reconstruction (ACLR), suggesting that critical neuromuscular deficits may be underdiagnosed. This study aimed to compare limb asymmetries across strength, concentric and eccentric [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Present assessment methods have not effectively mitigated the risk of recurrent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury following reconstruction (ACLR), suggesting that critical neuromuscular deficits may be underdiagnosed. This study aimed to compare limb asymmetries across strength, concentric and eccentric power, and deceleration metrics during return-to-sport (RTS) testing in professional athletes post-ACLR. Materials and Methods: Forty-four participants (33 males, 11 females; age 22.5 ± 5.8 years, body mass 75.9 ± 13.0 kg, height 180.5 ± 8.38 cm) (mean ± SD) with a unilateral reconstructed ACL (BTB = 33, HT = 11 graft) were included. They underwent isokinetic testing of knee flexor and extensor strength and bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) assessments to measure concentric and eccentric peak power and deceleration metrics. Limb symmetry indices (LSI) were calculated for each parameter. Welch’s ANOVA and Games–Howell post hoc tests were used to compare LSIs among parameters. Results: Welch’s ANOVA showed that limb symmetry differed significantly across the measured neuromuscular parameters (F = 12,59, p < 0.001). Knee flexor strength LSI was significantly higher than knee extensor strength LSI (p = 0.003; d = 1.18), concentric peak power LSI (p < 0.001, d = 1.44), eccentric peak power LSI (p = 0.001, d = 1.71), and deceleration LSI (p = 0.001, d = 2.09). In addition, deceleration LSI was significantly lower than knee extensor strength LSI (p = 0.001, d = 1.34) and concentric peak power LSI (p = 0.007, d = 1.10). No significant difference was found between concentric and eccentric peak power, nor between knee extensor strength and either concentric or eccentric peak power LSIs. Conclusions: The findings of this study revealed significantly greater asymmetries in load absorption capacity compared to strength and concentric power measures at return-to-sport time frame in professional athletes post-ACLR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ACL: From Injury to Return to Sport)
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