ACL reconstruction rehab with added psychological support

ACL Reconstruction Rehabilitation With Exercise and Psychological Support

This trial will test whether adding psychological support to standard exercise-based rehab helps 15–21-year-olds recover better after ACL reconstruction.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 15 Years to 21 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: HealthPartners Institute (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Bloomington, Minnesota)
• Trial ID: NCT06991192 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot randomized trial enrolls 60 patients aged 15–21 undergoing ACL reconstruction who plan to return to cutting, jumping, or pivoting sports. All participants follow the same standard exercise rehabilitation protocol, but the REPS group receives enhanced psychological support through physical therapists trained in psychologically informed practice plus patient training videos, while the control group receives standard therapist care and group-specific brief videos. Participants are randomized and blinded to group assignment, with study visits before surgery, before the first post-op rehab visit, and at 3 and 6 months post-surgery to measure psychological readiness, knee function, feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity. Therapists providing REPS receive didactic training, clinical practice, and ongoing feedback to standardize delivery.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are 15–21-year-olds who had an ACL reconstruction within six months using a patellar tendon or quadriceps autograft, were highly active before injury (Tegner ≥5, ≥100 hours/year), intend to return to cutting/jumping sports, and can complete rehabilitation at a participating TRIA location.

Not a fit: Patients with prior ACL surgery, major additional ligament injuries, cartilage procedures requiring non-weight-bearing, or those outside the specified age, activity level, or graft-type criteria are not eligible and would not be expected to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve psychological readiness to return to sport and knee function after ACL reconstruction, helping young athletes recover more confidently and possibly reducing re-injury risk.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research suggests psychological interventions can improve return-to-sport readiness after ACL injury, but therapist-delivered integrated programs like REPS are novel and randomized data are limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 15 to 21 years at the time of surgery;
* Pre-injury Tegner Activity Rating60 ≥ 5 (5=recreational sports, 10=elite sports);
* Sports participation at least 100 hours/year prior to injury;
* Intent to resume a pre-injury sport that requires cutting, jumping, or pivoting;
* ACL reconstruction performed ≤ 6 months from injury;
* ACL reconstruction performed with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft or quadriceps tendon autograft; and
* Able to complete rehabilitation at one of the 4 participating TRIA locations.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous ACL injury or surgery to either limb;
* Concomitant ligamentous injury \> Grade II or requiring surgery; and
* Surgical procedure to articular cartilage requiring non-weight-bearing after surgery.

Where this trial is running

Bloomington, Minnesota

• TRIA — Bloomington, Minnesota, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: TRIA Research

Conditions: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation, ACL Reconstruction, Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Rehabilitation, Psychological