Virtual Reality–Based Rehabilitation to Mitigate the Negative Externalities of ACL Injuries in Professional Football

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries represent one of the main sources of negative externalities in professional football due to their substantial economic, medical, and sporting impact. Beyond the individual harm suffered by the injured player, these injuries generate high indirect costs for clubs, arising from unproductive salaries, loss of competitive performance, and increased institutional healthcare expenditure, which may exceed €250,000 per player. Although conventional physiotherapy-based treatment is clinically effective, it involves long rehabilitation periods and a non-negligible risk of reinjury. In contrast, the integration of virtual reality (VR) into rehabilitation programs enables faster recovery, greater therapeutic adherence, and improved neuromuscular control, reducing time to return to play by approximately 15%. From an economic perspective, the initial investment in VR technology (€15,000–30,000) yields a return exceeding 2,000% by lowering both medical and salary-related costs associated with sports inactivity. This study examines the role of VR as an innovative tool to mitigate the negative externalities of ACL injuries, highlighting its potential to improve both economic and healthcare efficiency in professional football clubs.