%0 Journal Article %A Matt Taberner %A Nicol van Dyk %A Tom Allen %A Neil Jain %A Chris Richter %A Barry Drust %A Esteban Betancur %A Daniel D Cohen %T Physical preparation and return to performance of an elite female football player following ACL reconstruction: a journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup %D 2020 %R 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000843 %J BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine %P e000843 %V 6 %N 1 %X ACL injuries are among the most severe knee injuries in elite sport, with a high injury burden and re-injury risk. Despite extensive literature on the injury and the higher incidence of injury and re-injury in female athletes, there is limited evidence on the return to sport (RTS) of elite female football players following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). RTS is best viewed on a continuum aligning the recovery and rehabilitation process with the ultimate aim — a return to performance (RTPerf). We outline the RTS and RTPerf of an elite female football player following ACLR and her journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, including the gym-based physical preparation and the on-pitch/sports-specific reconditioning. We used the ‘control–chaos continuum’ as a framework for RTS, guiding a return above pre-injury training load demands while considering the qualitative nature of movement in competition. We then implemented the ‘RTPerf pathway’ to facilitate a return to team training, competitive match play and a RTPerf. Objective information, clinical reasoning and shared decision-making contributed to this process and helped the player to reach her goal of representing her country at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. %U https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/bmjosem/6/1/e000843.full.pdf