Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 15 to 25

ACL reconstruction rehab with added psychological support

Official title: ACL Reconstruction Rehabilitation With Exercise and Psychological Support

Run by HealthPartners Institute · NCT06991192 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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

Study typeInterventional
Ages15 Years to 25 Years
SexAll
Enrollment60 (estimated)
SponsorHealthPartners Institute
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Bloomington, Minnesota)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMay 1, 2025
Main results expectedOctober 1, 2027
Study endsDecember 31, 2027
Registry record updatedSeptember 15, 2026
Trial IDNCT06991192 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a 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.

Probably 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.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

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.

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 gone: 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.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 15 to 25 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 it's running

  • Tria
    Bloomington, Minnesota, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.