• June 30, 2026 | 11:25 AM - 12:20 PM
• PCC,Hall B (or C)

Addressing ACL Injury Neuroplasticity in Rehabilitation and Return to Sport Testing

Return-to-sport (RTS) decisions after ACL injury commonly rely on isolated physical metrics, which fail to capture the neuroplastic changes and neural compensations that influence motor control and injury risk. Despite emerging evidence, few clinicians apply neurocognitive assessments or integrate brain-based rehabilitation techniques. This session addresses the gap between neuroscience-informed best practices and traditional musculoskeletal approaches in sports medicine.

Learning Objectives - Explain the neuroplastic changes that occur in the central nervous system following ACL injury.
- Relate rehabilitation strategies to address injury associated neuroplasticity.
- Evaluate the evidence supporting augmented return-to-sport protocols that include neurocognitive elements.

Keywords: Neurocognitive; Brain-based rehab; Motor control