Knowledge, Attitude and Practices about cross bracing protocol in ACL injury : A Survey on Physiotherapist

Purpose : Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries are the most commonly seen injuries in the athletes, not all of these injuries need to be operated and can be treated conservatively, while many of them choose surgical intervention there is no certainty of the person returning to pre injury level without proper rehabilitation. Here Cross-Bracing protocol plays an important role, which tends to heal the ACL without surgical intervention by usage of brace for a particular period of time while taking regular physiotherapy rehabilitation. There is a limited knowledge of the same among Physiotherapists, so our study aimed to check awareness about this protocol among the Physiotherapists. Methods : A google form questionnaire was circulated among the Physiotherapists via mail and all social media platforms and data was collected for a period of 8 months. Calculated sample size was 80. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to analyze the survey responses. Results : A total of 82 participants (34 males, 48 females), with ± 4 years of practice completed the survey, where varying levels of awareness about ACL injury management and cross bracing protocols was observed. With 16.9% incorporating the protocol in regular practice. Conclusion: The survey highlights that physiotherapists recognize the value of managing ACL injuries and using cross bracing, giving desired outcomes. Despite its perceived benefits, only few physiotherapist consistently use cross bracing in treatment plans, indicating a need for further education on clinical guidelines and its long-term advantages, especially for high-risk groups.