10-Week MCL & PCL Knee Rehab Journey: From Injury Back to Competition

I am currently developing a series of videos that demonstrate rehab protocols, explain processes and various rehab methods in detail.

This includes: Medical and Injury History. Objective Data Collection, to support and inform programming, including clinical decision-making. Individualised programmes to meet, and exceed the athlete/Individual needs and goals.

These serve multiple purposes, including guiding the rehabilitation process, providing evidence-based data and practice, for return-to-competition decisions.

Transforming Sports Governance: Professional and ethical standards for Performance and Health Support These fulfil legal requirements for medical record-keeping, compliance and standards in professional and Olympic sports. Athlete centred care and safeguarding are central pillars.

Initial First Draft: I plan to refine and expand the content for slicker videos. A bit more clarity is below. I am choked with a cold🤧, hence husky voice and brain pauses

Anyway.⏩
The knee injury assessment and comms protocol involves several key steps:

1️⃣ Injury Assessment
A thorough examination of the knee & any other areas is conducted by a qualified medical professional/s (SEM), in this case team doctor, Nicholas Stubbings

Following protocols and decision flowchart, additional diagnostic tests are required (X-ray, MRI), in this case MRI

Communication Protocol
Medical and Performance Team to Technical Coaching Staff
Within 48 hours of completing the injury assessment, the medical & performance team discuss the following with coaching staff.

Specific Injury Details & Diagnosis
Management options, including medical interventions.
Training and playing restrictions.
Estimated duration of rehab, in Carly's case ten weeks.
Expected return-to-training and competition timeline. This flexes depending on how the athlete responds to rehab processes, and how the athlete feels.

Challenges in Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Integrated Processes
Even when (MDTs) follow best practices, including:
Thorough documentation.
Evidence-based decision-making at each step.
Strict adherence to integrated working protocols.

There can still be Issues with:
Acceptance of timelines.
Agreement on processes, particularly integrated working.
It may be the case on your team that not everyone believes in integrated working/MDT's.
Even satisfaction with positive rehab outcomes.

Integrity is a central pillar
Personal Observation
In my experience, even successful MDT interventions may face scepticism or resistance. This challenge can persist despite following recommended procedures & achieving positive results.

1️⃣ Focus: Athlete Meeting & (MDT)
A face-to-face meeting is held within 48 hours of injury assessment, involving:

Injured athlete (Always Centred)
Medical staff.
Technical Coaching team.
Athlete Representative (only if applicable).

During this meeting, the following can be discussed:
Injury details and diagnosis
Proposed management plan.
Rehab pathway.
Expected timeline for return to training and competition.

Key Principles
Maintain clear and constant communication between all involved.
Ensure transparency with the athlete to increase confidence in the process.
Involve the athlete support team (family, friends) to foster trust, belief and understanding. Letters help with clarity for family, friends, those important to the athlete.

Use simple vocabulary for clarity, and to manage expectations.
Establish collaborative relationships within the MDT, and all stakeholders, these can be internal and external.
By using protocols, the MDT aims to ensure effective communication and management of injuries, leading to better outcomes for the athlete and team.

Insights: I hope you find this initial video useful and informative.

Lizzie