The Patient-Physiotherapist Tango: a Personalized Approach to ACL Recovery - a Qualitative Interview Study.
Ramana Piussi, Ella Brandt, Alicia Johansson and 4 others
PMID 39628779WHAT IT FOUND
Patients 8-12 months after ACL reconstruction described feeling most supported when their physiotherapist adapted exercises to their needs and set goals together.
They valued a friendly, communicative alliance where they were actively involved in decisions.
Key findings
01Patients perceived rehabilitation as person-centered when physiotherapists tailored exercises, dosage, and setting to individual abilities and available equipment.
02A strong, communicative alliance with the physiotherapist, often described as friendly, was crucial for patients feeling that their rehabilitation was personalized.
03Patients felt more motivated when goals were designed together with the physiotherapist, whereas unclear instructions and self-chosen exercises diminished motivation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 14 participants, which limits the transferability of findings to broader populations. Participants were recruited from a specific registry (Project ACL) in Sweden, which may not reflect the experiences of patients in other healthcare systems or those not engaged in such registries. The analysis was performed by authors who included physiotherapists and researchers with personal experience of ACL injury, which introduces potential subjectivity, although reflexivity was addressed. The study explored perceptions of care quality but did not measure clinical outcomes such as muscle strength, return-to-sport rates, or psychological scores.
Declared interests
The authors declared that all except one were involved in Project ACL, the registry from which patients were recruited, either in development or as test supervisors. No other specific financial conflicts or sponsorships were detailed in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that person-centered care improves clinical outcomes like strength or return-to-sport rates. The study reports patients' subjective experiences of their rehabilitation, not the efficacy of any intervention.