Energetic expenditure during in-field rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction in soccer players

In-field rehabilitation (IFR) consists on sport specific exercises and drills performed in a playing field under supervision of rehabilitative personnel aimed to regain the fitness level required for training with the team. During IFR functional recovery is attained by progressively increasing loads, so IFR may be subdivided into 5 phases characterized by specific drills performed at different intensity. PURPOSE: To determine the energetic expenditure of soccer players during IFR after Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: 17 male soccer players (30.2 ± 8.6yrs; 76.9 ± 8.7 kg; 180 ± 3 cm) of different levels started IFR 129 ± 39 days after ACL surgical reconstruction. IFR consisted on 3 sessions a week (90 minutes each) for 4 weeks. Energetic expenditure (EE, kcal/h) was assessed by a multi-sensor device recording physiological body signals (skin temperature, near body temperature/heat flux, galvanic skin resistance, 2 accelerometers; Armband, Body Media, Pittsburg, PA) worn on the lateral head of the right triceps brachii. This device allows also to calculate the Metabolic Equivalents (METs) and the number of steps. RESULTS: EE, METs and number of steps/hours (means ± SD) for each of the 5 phases of IFR are showed in the table. TU1 CONCLUSIONS: The energetic expenditure and the number of steps/hours increased significantly (P < 0.001) over the 5 phases as a result of the increased functional demand of the last period of rehabilitation. EE in the 5th phase was lower (-30%) than that reported in the literature for healthy soccer players during competitions. The injured player may return to his team after attaining the complete functional recovery of the injured limb, considering also the EE at the end of the rehabilitation