The influence of patient gender on exercise prescription in ACL reconstruction rehabilitation

Abstract

Objective

To assess differences in physical therapists’ exercise prescription and confidence in return-to-sport readiness between girl and boy patients undergoing rehabilitation post-ACLR.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Methods

115 physical therapist responses were collected in an electronic survey. Demographics were captured and therapists were asked to assess the appropriateness of exercises and intensity of prescription for case vignettes of an adolescent boy and girl at four different phases of post-ACLR rehabilitation. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed for paired comparisons among physical therapists’ responses to the boy and girl vignettes.

Results

Physical therapists' exercise prescription and confidence in return-to-sport readiness differed for the boy and girl vignettes post-ACLR, specifically during the return-to-sport phase. When exercise was performed with perceived ideal form, physical therapists indicated it was more appropriate to maintain or progress the exercise for girls and had more confidence in girls' ability to return-to-sport. When the exercise was performed with perceived poor form, physical therapists indicated it was more appropriate to maintain or progress the exercise for boys and had more confidence in boys’ ability to return-to-sport.

Conclusion

A patient's gender may influence exercise prescription and return-to-sport expectations of physical therapists, which may contribute to disparities in patient outcomes between genders post-ACLR.