Research summary · Women's sport
Sex differences in return to sport after ACL reconstruction
The review examines whether return-to-sport outcomes after ACL reconstruction differ between female and male participants.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis
- Journal
- American Journal of Sports Medicine
- Population / context
- Multiple sports · ACL reconstruction
What the publication reports
At 12 months, eight studies covering 2,238 people found lower return odds for female participants (odds ratio 0.76). Results varied with follow-up timing; the longest-follow-up estimate did not show a clear difference.
Limits and interpretation
Observational comparisons and inconsistent definitions limit interpretation. These associations do not establish biological inevitability or identify a proven intervention to close disparities.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Are There Sex Disparities in Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction? A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-analysis
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42252835DOI: 10.1177/03635465261448489Full text at the sourceReader discussion
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