Fitness, knee function and competition performance in professional alpine skiers after ACL injury.

ACL injuries sustained by professional skiers entail muscle strength and power deficits that persist for more than five months after surgery. The rate of recovery of knee extensor muscle function may be slower following ACL reconstruction using quadriceps tendon grafts. On average, athletes returned to competition within one year after surgery and succeeded in surpassing their baseline performance level within the first year after return to competition.