MOBILE-BASED TELEREHABILITATION DURING THE FIRST SIX WEEKS FOLLOWING ACL RECONSTRUCTION: A CASE SERIES OF SIX PATIENTS

Background: Early rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is critical for preventing quadriceps atrophy, joint stiffness, and functional decline. However, high clinical caseloads frequently delay patients access to formal physiotherapy, creating a rehabilitation gap in the first postoperative weeks. Mobile-based tele-rehabilitation has emerged as a promising strategy to bridge this gap, yet its application specifically in the early post-ACLR period remains underreported. Emerging evidence suggests that less supervised, home-based rehabilitation can achieve outcomes comparable to intensive clinic-based programs (Gamble et al., 2021), supporting the rationale for structured remote follow-up as an adjunct to standard care. Case Presentation: Six male patients (mean age 26.7 years, range 24-31) who had undergone ACLR were identified at their postoperative Day 2 screening appointment. All patients faced a one-month delay before their first formal physiotherapy session due to high departmental caseload. Ultrasound assessments on the day of screening confirmed suprapatellar effusion (range 0.47-0.77 cm) and bilateral quadriceps thickness asymmetry, with affected-limb muscle thickness at rest ranging from 1.40 to 2.72 cm compared to 1.83 to 3.00 cm in the unaffected limb.