# Time to Cross Paths: Neuroplasticity-Informed ACL Rehabilitation that Includes Cross-Education

## TL;DR

This paper proposes a new ACL rehabilitation approach combining cross-education and visual-cognitive tasks to improve recovery and long-term outcomes.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel neuroplasticity-informed rehabilitation strategy for ACL injuries using cross-education and dual-tasking.

## Key findings

- Combining cross-education with visual-cognitive tasks may accelerate ACL recovery.
- Neuroplasticity-informed rehabilitation could address both mechanical and neurological deficits.
- The proposed method may improve return-to-sport criteria consistency.

## Abstract

The efficacy of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rehabilitation following reconstruction surgery is sub-optimal and the return-to-sport criteria are inconsistent. We examine the hypothesis that the dysfunctional neuroplasticity induced by an ACL injury could be resolved faster when cross-education is combined with innovative paradigms incorporating visual-cognitive tasks to reduce attentional compensation. We posit that the priming effects could be amplified if therapists combined higher force, eccentric based cross-education exercises with visual-cognitive dual-tasking. The overlapping nature of neuroplasticity after an ACL injury and that induced by cross education may provide a pathway to not only address the mechanical muscle strength deficits associated with injury, but the underlying neurological deficits as well. We provide a practical guide to how neuroplasticity-informed ACL rehabilitation that includes cross-education might accelerate recovery from an ACL injury and the subsequent reconstruction surgery.

Rehabilitation from the aftermath of an ACL injury and surgery can take up to a year.We suggest the inclusion of cross-education and visual-cognitive tasks in ACL rehabilitation.Such neuroplasticity-informed ACL rehabilitation could improve long-term outcomes.

Rehabilitation from the aftermath of an ACL injury and surgery can take up to a year.

We suggest the inclusion of cross-education and visual-cognitive tasks in ACL rehabilitation.

Such neuroplasticity-informed ACL rehabilitation could improve long-term outcomes.