Feasibility and Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation Versus Home-Based Rehabilitation in Athletes Post ACL Reconstruction

Title of the study: Feasibility and Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation Versus Home-Based Rehabilitation

in Athletes Post ACL Reconstruction.

There are 44 participants in all (22 in the control group and 22 in the intervention group). Every participant will undergo screening in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Criteria for Inclusion:Male and female athletes aged 18-35 years, confirmed ACL rupture on MRI (full-thickness tear requiring surgical reconstruction), athletes who have undergone ACL reconstruction, and post-operative recruitment within the first 2 weeks post-surgery. Athletes with multiple ligament injuries (MCL, LCL, PCL, etc.) or a history of previous knee surgery apart from ACL reconstruction will be excluded. Before beginning the study, informed consent will be taken from each participant; after taking consent, participants will be explained about the study. This study will only recruit patients who meet the inclusion criteria. A minimum of 22 participants per group (44 in total) will be recruited. Randomised allocation (1:1) to supervised telerehabilitation vs. home-based self-rehabilitation groups, stratified by gender to ensure equal representation. Both groups follow standardised ACL rehabilitation protocols for 3 months. Assessments were conducted at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-rehabilitation. Final analysis compares rehabilitation efficacy between genders. Participants in the intervention group could access the rehabilitation content applicable to their current phase each day and confirm their willingness to execute it through the application. Additionally, participants have the capability to communicate with therapists via the mobile phone application, enabling them to send text, voice messages, images, and videos throughout the entire experiment. Participants in the control group could only receive a graphic and textual minimal postoperative rehabilitation plan on the mobile phone application. However, the participants will not inform the frequency and intensity of the rehabilitation items. They could not communicate with therapists online. Participants in the control group were expected to exercise unsupervised postoperatively. All participants went to the outpatient clinic for follow-up by a physiotherapist to provide face-to-face guidance for exercise methods.