scholarly journals Quadriceps Strength and Functional Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Professional Soccer players at Time of Return to Sport

2018 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Herrington ◽  
Hussain Ghulam ◽  
Paul Comfort
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967117S0017
Author(s):  
Peter Annear ◽  
Ebert Jay

Objectives: A major reason for undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) for patients is to return to high demand activity and sport. Published literature supports a return to sport (RTS) at 6-12 months, though the recovery of lower limb strength and functional symmetry is critical and is linked with a patient’s ability to RTS, as well as reducing the incidence of secondary re-tear. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes and RTS between patients undergoing ACLR utilizing a hamstring graft and those undergoing a hybrid technique which augments the hamstring graft with a synthetic LARS ligament. Methods: A non-randomized study design was used to compare clinical outcomes at 10-12 months post-surgery, in 82 patients undergoing conventional ACLR via a hamstring graft (HG) and 35 patients undergoing a hybrid hamstring/LARS graft (HLG). All patients were assessed using a range of patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores (IKDC, KOOS, Cinncinati, Lysholm, SF-36, Tegner, Noyes, Global Rating of Change – GRC). Limb symmetry indices (LSIs) presenting the operated limb as a percentage of the unaffected limb were calculated for several strength/functional assessments (peak isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring strength, the single, triple and triple crossover hop for distance, and the 6 m timed hop). Results: There were no group differences (p>0.05) in patient demographics and the majority of PROs. The HLG group perceived themselves to be significantly ‘more recovered’ (p=0.046) on the GRC scale (HLG = 3.2, HG = 2.2), and also reported a significantly greater (p=0.004) Tegner score (HLG = 7.2, HG = 5.9). For the HG group, 62% of patients had returned to Noyes Level 1 or 2 activities, versus 80% of the HLG group. For the Tegner score, 57% of patients reported a score >6, versus 77% of the HLG group. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in LSIs between groups for the strength and functional hop tests. However, the HLG group demonstrated a mean LSI above 90% for all four hop tests, while all four were below 90% in the HG group. Both groups demonstrated mean hamstring strength LSIs above 90%, while the quadriceps strength LSI was 81.9% and 85.8% for the HG and HLG groups, respectively. Conclusion: Patients in the HLG group perceived themselves to be more recovered, and had returned to a higher level of activity/sport, compared with the HG group. While not significant, the HLG group did demonstrate more favorable functional hop and quadriceps strength LSIs, which has been linked with the ability to RTS and the incidence of ACL re-tear. A larger patient cohort and follow-up is required to observe long-term outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1365-1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Read ◽  
Sean Michael Auliffe ◽  
Mathew G. Wilson ◽  
Philip Graham-Smith

Background: Residual between-limb deficits are a possible contributing factor to poor outcomes in athletic populations after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Comprehensive appraisals of movement strategies utilized by athletes at key clinical milestones during rehabilitation are warranted. Purpose: To examine kinetic parameters recorded during a countermovement jump with a force platform in healthy professional soccer players and to compare their performance with those who had undergone ACLR at different stages of their rehabilitation. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 370 male professional soccer players attended a physical screening assessment where they performed at counter jump movement protocol on dual force plates and were divided into 4 groups: group 1 (<6 months post-ACLR), group 2 (6-9 months post-ACLR), group 3 (>9 months post-ACLR), and group 4 (healthy matched controls). Results: Players in the later phases of rehabilitation increased their jump performance; however, values were significantly lower than those of healthy matched controls ( P > .05). Significant between-limb differences were present for both eccentric- and concentric-phase variables ( P < .05), with effect sizes ranging from moderate to very large ( d = 0.42-1.35). Asymmetries were lower in players who were further away from surgery; however, between-limb differences remained significantly greater in players >9 months after ACLR versus matched controls—specifically, for concentric impulse, concentric peak force, eccentric deceleration impulse, and eccentric deceleration rate of force development asymmetry ( P < .05). Logistic regression identified concentric impulse asymmetry as being most strongly associated with a history of ACLR when group prediction analysis was performed (ACLR group 1, 2, or 3 vs matched controls), with odds ratios ranging from 1.50 to 1.91. Conclusion: Between-limb deficits in key eccentric and concentric loading parameters remain >9 months after ACLR, indicating a compensatory offloading strategy to protect the involved limb during an athletic performance task. Concentric impulse asymmetry could be considered an important variable to monitor during rehabilitation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 2438-2446
Author(s):  
Michael T. Curran ◽  
Asheesh Bedi ◽  
Megan Kujawa ◽  
Riann Palmieri-Smith

Background: Patients who undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) have deficiencies in strength, functional performance, and biomechanical function at return to activity. Patients who have abnormal strength and function after ACLR may be at a greater risk for secondary injury and posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Purpose: To examine quadriceps strength, functional performance, and knee biomechanics in patients who are 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after ACLR. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We recruited 82 participants (45 female) who underwent ACLR and were cleared to return to activity . Participants were assigned to 1 of 4 groups based on their time from ACLR: 9 months (285.26 ± 8.16 days), 12 months (373.59 ± 8.81 days), 18 months (557.50 ± 11.96 days), and 24 months postoperative (741.05 ± 11.86 days). Quadriceps strength was measured concentrically at 60 deg/s. Functional performance was assessed by measuring maximal hop distances or heights during dynamic hopping/jumping tests (single-leg hop, triple hop, crossover hop, and single-leg vertical hop). Biomechanical function was evaluated during the dynamic hop tests by using peak sagittal plane knee flexion angles recorded during landings. Strength, performance, and biomechanics data were collected for both limbs and reported as symmetry scores ([injured/uninjured] × 100). Self-perceived function was measured using the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee form. Results: Quadriceps strength in the 9-month (77.61 ± 16.73) and 12-month (77.80 ± 13.99) groups was significantly lower ( P < .01) compared with the 24-month group (92.40 ± 15.55). Self-perceived function for the 9-month group (79.33 ± 10.40) was significantly lower ( P < .01) when compared with 12-month (87.58 ± 10.29), 18-month (89.81 ± 8.36), and 24-month (91.59 ± 5.70) groups. Single-leg hop distance symmetry was significantly lower ( P < .01) for the 9-month group (90.01 ± 9.46) when compared with the 18-month (96.24 ± 6.47) and 24-month (96.30 ± 6.46) groups; triple hop symmetry was significantly lower ( P < .05) for the 9-month group (90.26 ± 10.03) when compared with the 18-month (96.83 ± 9.60) and 24-month (95.91 ± 6.36) groups; and crossover hop was significantly lower ( P < .05) for the 9-month group (88.35 ± 13.53) when compared with the 18-month (95.85 ± 8.63) and 24-month (97.10 ± 4.12) groups. Conclusion: Quadriceps strength, self-perceived function, and functional performance improve 9 to 24 months after ACLR, indicating that recovery is ongoing after return to activity. Return-to-activity criteria after ACLR should objectively account for strength and function.


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