Ayoosh Pareek, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS, discusses the challenges Real Madrid defender Eder Militao may face after his second ACL tear in an interview with SB Nation. 

According to Dr. Pareek, the biggest concern for any athlete recovering from an ACL tear is always the risk of re-injury. Returning too quickly or not addressing critical aspects of rehabilitation can significantly increase the chance of another injury, either to the same knee or the opposite one. Beyond that, regaining explosiveness and neuromuscular control is a primary challenge, especially for athletes like Militao, who rely heavily on their ability to accelerate, decelerate, and change direction rapidly. We know that athletes who are highly explosive sometimes take up to two full years to regain their pre-injury level of explosiveness, even if they return to competition earlier. Balancing this timeline with the need to get an athlete back to play—where inactivity is also not helpful to the athlete or the team—is a delicate process. Neuromuscular control for sport-specific tasks, like cutting and pivoting, is critical and must be trained rigorously in a progressive manner. Mental factors also play a significant role. Confidence in the repaired leg is key, as hesitancy or fear of re-injury can limit an athlete’s ability to fully trust their body. Rehabilitation must address both the physical and psychological aspects to optimize performance and reduce the risk of setbacks.

Read the full article at managingmadrid.com.