Start Date
23-4-2026 12:00 AM
Description
This case follows the rehabilitation of a 22-year-old collegiate lacrosse player recovering from a complex knee injury. During the initial evaluation, the athlete presented with pain, swelling, and limited active range of motion, secondary to pain. The rehabilitation protocol used a combination of ACL, MCL, and meniscus standardized rehabilitation parameters. The primary goal of rehabilitation was to safely return the athlete play the following season. This case highlights the importance of knee health and the role of preventative exercise programs in reducing injury risks. This case covers the rehabilitation of a complex right knee injury primarily focusing on a complete tear of the anterior crucial ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL), a complex tear of lateral meniscus posterior horn, and a partial thickness tear of the proximal lateral collateral ligament. The surgical interventions was a bone patella tendon bone graft for reconstructing the ACL, an allograft hamstring with internal binding for reconstructing the MCL, and an autograft and allograft for reconstructing the lateral collateral ligament.
Research Highlights
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The Problem: A 21-year-old female collegiate lacrosse player sustained a complex non-contact knee injury involving a grade 3 ACL tear, grade 3 MCL tear, a complex lateral meniscus posterior horn tear, a partial thickness proximal LCL tear, a partial thickness distal patellar tendon tear, a lateral femoral condyle impact fracture, and linear cartilage fissuring of the patella.
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The Method: The rehabilitation protocol utilized a combination of standardized ACL, MCL, and meniscus exercise parameters, incorporating manual therapies, therapeutic modalities, muscular strengthening, proprioceptive exercises, and plyometrics.
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Quantitative Finding: Between initial evaluation and 16 weeks post-surgery, the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) score improved from 13/80 (16.25%) to 67/80 (83.8%); the pain scale decreased from 4 to 3; active flexion range of motion increased from 100° to 135°; active extension changed from 5° to -2°; and manual muscle testing for knee flexion and extension reached 4-/5.
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Qualitative Finding: The athlete demonstrated significant functional improvement through progressive phases of rehabilitation, moving from quadricep activation and swelling management to single-leg movements and a return-to-run protocol.
Recommended Citation
Pritt, Shelby, "Clinical Evaluation and Rehabilitation of a Complex Non-Contact Knee Injury in a Collegiate Athlete" (2026). 2026 Student Academic Showcase. 35.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/src_2026/Posters/1/35
Included in
Clinical Evaluation and Rehabilitation of a Complex Non-Contact Knee Injury in a Collegiate Athlete
This case follows the rehabilitation of a 22-year-old collegiate lacrosse player recovering from a complex knee injury. During the initial evaluation, the athlete presented with pain, swelling, and limited active range of motion, secondary to pain. The rehabilitation protocol used a combination of ACL, MCL, and meniscus standardized rehabilitation parameters. The primary goal of rehabilitation was to safely return the athlete play the following season. This case highlights the importance of knee health and the role of preventative exercise programs in reducing injury risks. This case covers the rehabilitation of a complex right knee injury primarily focusing on a complete tear of the anterior crucial ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL), a complex tear of lateral meniscus posterior horn, and a partial thickness tear of the proximal lateral collateral ligament. The surgical interventions was a bone patella tendon bone graft for reconstructing the ACL, an allograft hamstring with internal binding for reconstructing the MCL, and an autograft and allograft for reconstructing the lateral collateral ligament.