scholarly journals Quantifying Coordination and Variability in the Lower Extremities after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 652
Author(s):  
Sangheon Park ◽  
Sukhoon Yoon

Patients experience various biomechanical changes following reconstruction for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, previous studies have focused on lower extremity joints as a single joint rather than simultaneous lower extremity movements. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the movement changes in the lower limb coordination patterns according to movement type following ACL reconstruction. Twenty-one post ACL reconstruction patients (AG) and an equal number of healthy adults (CG) participated in this study. They were asked to perform walking, running, and cutting maneuvers. The continuous relative phase and variability were calculated to examine the coordination pattern. During running and cutting at 30 and 60°, the AG demonstrated a lower in-phase hip–knee coordination pattern in the sagittal plane. The AG demonstrated low hip–knee variability in the sagittal plane during cutting at 60°. The low in-phase coordination pattern can burden the knee by generating unnatural movements following muscle contraction in the opposite direction. Based on the results, it would be useful to identify the problem and provide the fundamental evidence for the optimal timing of return-to-sport after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) rehabilitation, if the coordination variable is measured with various sensors promptly in the sports field to evaluate the coordination of human movement.

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 2501-2509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avinesh Agarwalla ◽  
Richard N. Puzzitiello ◽  
Joseph N. Liu ◽  
Gregory L. Cvetanovich ◽  
Anirudh K. Gowd ◽  
...  

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most common traumatic knee injuries experienced by athletes. Return to sport is considered the pinnacle endpoint among patients receiving ACL reconstruction. However, at the time of return to sport, patients may not be participating at their previous levels of function, as defined by clinical metrics. Purpose: To establish when patients perceive maximal subjective medical improvement according to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: A systematic review of the PubMed database was conducted to identify studies that reported sequential PROMs up to a minimum of 2 years after ACL reconstruction. Pooled analysis was conducted for PROMs at follow-up points of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Clinically significant improvement was determined between pairs of intervals with the minimal clinically important difference. Results: This review contains 30 studies including 2253 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction. Clinically significant improvement in the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) was seen up to 1 year after ACL reconstruction, but no clinical significance was noted from 1 to 2 years. Clinically significant improvement in the IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) and Lysholm questionnaires was seen up to 6 months postoperatively, but no clinical significance was noted beyond that. Conclusion: After ACL reconstruction, maximal subjective medical improvement is established 1 year postoperatively, with no further perceived clinical improvement beyond this time point according to current PROMs. The KOOS may be a more responsive metric to subjective improvements in this patient cohort than other patient-reported outcomes, such as the IKDC and Lysholm. Clinical Relevance: After ACL reconstruction, patients perceive interval subjective improvements until 1 year postoperatively.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (6_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967118S0004
Author(s):  
F García-Bol ◽  
V Posada-Franco ◽  
A Roldán-Valero ◽  
R Del Caño-Espinel

Hop Tests (unipodal horizontal jumps) have been recommended as one of the reliable assessment tests when allowing a return to competition for a sportsperson after an anterior cruciate ligament injury1,2,3,4. Currently, comparison is made of the results with the contralateral limb through the symmetry index, a method which might not provide sufficient security upon the return to competitive sport5. Hop tests can be used in preseason to gain reference values prior to a possible injury. The objective of this review is to analise the scientific literature such as the F-Marc6 (reference manual of FIFA) to confirm whether include said tests in preseason for football teams. A search was conducted in the Pubmed y Cochrane databases (17/04/17) with the search terms “Hop Test”, “Football”, “Soccer”, and “Preseason”. Articles in English and Spanish were both accepted. Articles excluded were those that did not make reference to the knee, to football, and those that did not conduct tests during preseason. From a total of 33 articles, 4 with these search criteria were included, 5 articles were added trough the bibliography of other studies, and the F-Marc manual was analised. 4 of the articles used the hop tests in preseason for some type of study, of which 3 were used as part of a prospective assessment for the season. On the other hand, the F-Marc does not consider Hop Tests as an assessment test. Hop tests were not found to be used in preseason as reference values prior to possible future injuries, data which could be beneficial for a safe return to sport. Harris J, Abrams G, Bach B, Williams D, Heidloff D, Bush-Joseph C, Verma N, Forsythe B, Cole B. Return to Sport After ACL Reconstruction. ORTHOPEDICS. 2014; 37: e103-e108. Barber-Westin SD, Noyes FR. Factors used to determine return to unrestricted sports activities after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy. 2011 Dec;27(12):1697-705. Thomeé R, Kaplan Y, Kvist J, Myklebust G, Risberg MA, Theisen D, Tsepis E, Werner S, Wondrasch B, Witvrouw E. Muscle strength and hop performance criteria prior to return to sports after ACL reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2011 Nov;19(11):1798-805. Bolgla LA, Keskula DR. Reliability of lower extremity functional performance tests. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1997 Sep;26(3):138-42. Wellsandt E, Failla MJ, Snyder-Mackler L. Limb Symmetry Indexes Can Overestimate Knee Function After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017 Mar 29:1-18. F-MARC. Football Medicine Manual. 2nd Edition. Available from: http://f-marc.com . 2017.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 1567-1575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Beischer ◽  
Eric Hamrin Senorski ◽  
Christoffer Thomeé ◽  
Kristian Samuelsson ◽  
Roland Thomeé

Background: Adult patients who succeed in returning to their preinjury levels of sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have been characterized by a more positive psychological response. It is not known whether this relationship is valid for adolescent athletes. Purpose: To investigate psychological readiness to return to sport, knee-related self-efficacy, and motivation among adolescent (15-20 years old) and adult (21-30 years old) athletes after ACL reconstruction. A further aim was to compare athletes (15-30 years old) who had recovered their muscle function and returned to sport with athletes who had not. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Data were extracted from a rehabilitation-specific register 8 and 12 months after ACL reconstruction. Athletes previously involved in knee-strenuous sport who had undergone primary ACL reconstruction were included. Data comprised psychological patient-reported outcomes and results from 5 tests of muscle function. Comparisons were performed between age groups, between athletes who had and had not recovered their muscle function, and between patients who had returned to sport and not. Results: In all, 384 (50% females) and 271 athletes (52% females) were included at the 8- and 12- month follow-ups, respectively. Enhanced self-efficacy was reported at both follow-ups by adolescents and by athletes who had recovered their muscle function. Athletes who had recovered their muscle function reported higher ( P = .0007) motivation to achieve their goals. Subgroup analyses on patient sex revealed findings similar to those in the main analyses for females but not for males. Moreover, adolescent and adult athletes who had returned to sport reported significantly higher levels on the Knee Self-Efficacy Scale and the ACL–Return to Sport After Injury scale at both follow-ups. Conclusion: Adolescent athletes, especially females, perceived enhanced self-efficacy, had a higher return-to-sport rate, and were more motivated to reach their goals after ACL reconstruction compared with adults. Regardless of age, athletes who had returned to sport and athletes with more symmetrical muscle function had a stronger psychological profile.


Joints ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 05 (03) ◽  
pp. 156-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Zanovello ◽  
Federica Rosso ◽  
Alessandro Bistolfi ◽  
Roberto Rossi ◽  
Filippo Castoldi

Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate the “over the top” (OTT) nonanatomical technique for revision of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods Twenty-four patients with a mean age of 31.9 ± 11.2 years underwent revision of ACL reconstruction using OTT technique. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lysholm score, Tegner score, Subjective Patient Outcome for Return to Sport (SPORTS) score, Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport After Injury (ACL-RSI) scale, and KT-1000 evaluation were recorded at a mean follow-up of 30.7 ± 18.9 months. Results Postoperatively, the IKDC objective total score significantly improved (p = 0.0046). The KOOS, Lysholm, and Tegner scores also improved, but the results were not statistically significant (62.4 vs. 72.6, 6.5 vs. 75.8, and 4.1 vs. 6.0, respectively). The subjective IKDC evaluation score improved from an average of 51.1 points to 63.7 points at the last follow-up (p = 0.0027). The RTP prevalence was 81.8%, with 44.4% of the patients returning to the same preinjury level. According to the SPORTS score, 16.6% of patients played sport without limitations in activity and performance. The average ACL-RSI score was 52.1 ± 27.0. No major complications were reported. A total of 21.5% of patients underwent surgical removal of staples. The failure prevalence was 14.3% and the cumulative survivorship, calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method, was equal to 70% at 60 months of follow-up. Conclusion The OTT technique in the revision ACL reconstruction provided improvement in objective and subjective scores, good RTP prevalence, and acceptable rate of complication and failure. One of the advantages was the possibility to avoid the femoral tunnel. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596711775081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshinari Tanaka ◽  
Keisuke Kita ◽  
Rikio Takao ◽  
Hiroshi Amano ◽  
Ryohei Uchida ◽  
...  

Background: It remains unclear whether the tibiofemoral relationship in the sagittal plane is restored after anatomic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, particularly in cases of chronic ACL deficiency (ACLD). Hypothesis: Patients with long-term ACLD will exhibit an anteriorly subluxed tibia both preoperatively and immediately postoperatively, even after anatomic reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: In total, 358 patients who had undergone anatomic ACL reconstruction with autologous semitendinosus grafts were divided into 5 groups based on chronicity of ACLD: (1) 0 to 6 months, (2) 6 months to 1 year, (3) 1 to 2 years, (4) 2 to 5 years, and (5) longer than 5 years. Preoperatively and immediately postoperatively, all patients underwent lateral radiography in extension to evaluate the tibiofemoral relationship, specifically with regard to anterior tibial subluxation (ATS), space for the ACL (sACL), and extension angle. Demographic and radiographic factors were compared among the 5 groups. Results: Preoperative ATS values in groups 4 (mean ± SD, 2.9 ± 2.1 mm) and 5 (2.6 ± 1.9 mm) were significantly greater than in group 1 (1.6 ± 1.9 mm). Postoperatively, the tibia was posteriorly overconstrained in all groups, and there was no difference in immediately postoperative ATS among the 5 groups. Further evaluation of the tibiofemoral relationship in the sagittal plane revealed that the mean preoperative side-to-side difference in sACL (sACL-SSD) was greater in groups 4 (2.5 ± 1.6 mm) and 5 (2.2 ± 1.7 mm) than in group 1 (1.2 ± 1.5 mm). Immediately after ACL reconstruction, however, there were no group-dependent differences in sACL-SSD. No significant group-dependent differences were found for extension deficit. Conclusion: Chronicity of ACLD had an effect on the preoperative tibiofemoral relationship in the sagittal plane, including ATS and sACL-SSD, especially in patients with ACLD longer than 2 years. However, preoperative extension deficit was not influenced by chronicity. Immediately postoperatively, chronicity did not affect the ability of anatomic ACL reconstruction to reduce subluxation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Simpson ◽  
D MacDonald ◽  
J Keating

Abstract Introduction Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) rupture is a common sporting injury. Return to sport is a key objective for patients. The aim of this study was to investigate return to pre-injury level sport at 12- and 24-months post reconstruction and to relate this to types of sport and to patient satisfaction. Method A questionnaire was developed, piloted, and then completed by 77 patients that had undergone ACL reconstruction between 2013-2016. Results 30% of patients returned to pre-injury level of sport at 12 months and 43% by 24 months’ post ACL reconstruction. There was a significant(P = 0.037) relationship between the type of sports that participants played prior to injury and the return to pre-injury level. Sports that involved jumping, hard pivoting and cutting were associated with a lower rate of return to sport. General health profile of the patients was found to be significantly higher in patients that returned to sport(P = 0.024). There was a significant association with return to sport and higher satisfaction and healthcare experience score(P = 0.001). Conclusions Patient satisfaction correlated with return to sport. This was inversely related to sports involving jumping, hard pivoting and cutting. Which further illustrates how patient satisfaction post ACL reconstruction was linked to type of sport.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596712110004
Author(s):  
Eoghan T. Hurley ◽  
Dan Withers ◽  
Enda King ◽  
Andrew Franklyn-Miller ◽  
Mark Jackson ◽  
...  

Background: There is scant literature on outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in rugby players, and no prior study has evaluated the outcomes of bone–patellar tendon–bone (BTB) autograft ACL reconstruction. Purpose: To assess the rate of return to play, the timing of that return, and the subsequent graft reinjury rate among rugby players after ACL reconstruction with BTB autograft. Methods: The ACL registry at a single hospital was screened for professional and amateur rugby players who had undergone a primary ACL reconstruction with BTB autograft. Professional rugby players were those playing for one of the professional provincial teams in Ireland. Outcomes were analyzed for the rate and timing of return to play, functional outcomes, and subsequent graft ruptures. Additionally, outcomes were compared between professional and amateur athletes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Results: A total of 126 patients with 24 months of follow-up were enrolled. The overall rate of return to play was 84.9%, with 75.4% returning to the same level of play; 8.7% of patients did not return to play secondary to non–knee-related issues. The mean time to return was 10.9 ± 4.9 months. Among professional rugby players, 93.3% were able to return at a mean time of 9.7 ± 4.4 months; 80% returned to the same level. The mean Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Return to Sport after Injury score was 78.4 ± 20.2, the Cincinnati knee score was 92.5 ± 8.0, the International Knee Documentation Committee score was 88.2 ± 8.1, and the Marx score was 9.7 ± 5.3. Two patients sustained a subsequent rerupture of the reconstructed ACL, and 4 players sustained a contralateral ACL injury within the follow-up interval of 2 years. Conclusion: Rugby players receiving BTB ACL reconstruction demonstrated good clinical outcomes with a high rate of return to sport, with the majority returning before 12 months. The rate of a subsequent ACL injury was low among the authors’ cohort at short-term follow-up.


2021 ◽  
pp. 194173812097824
Author(s):  
Florent Franck ◽  
Adnan Saithna ◽  
Thais Dutra Vieira ◽  
Charles Pioger ◽  
Gregory Vigne ◽  
...  

Background: Return to sport (RTS) to the preinjury level is the main purpose after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction but the factors affecting the RTS are not completely known. Knee Santy Athletic Return to Sport (K-STARTS) is a composite test designed to assess readiness for RTS after ACL reconstruction. Purpose: To determine the key factors that influence K-STARTS scores in a large cohort of patients after ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Case-control study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was undertaken. All patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery between March 2016 and May 2017 and also had a K-STARTS assessment at 6 months postoperatively were included. To identify factors influencing the K-STARTS score, an analysis of variance was performed. Age, sex, sports level, delay between injury and surgery, concomitant lesions, graft type, additional lateral tenodesis procedure, and participation in the RTS program were analyzed to identify factors influencing the K-STARTS score. Results: A total of 676 patients were included in the study. The K-STARTS score was significantly higher in male patients than in female patients (13.9 vs 12.4; P < 0.001), in younger patients (those aged <30 years vs older patients; 14.2 vs 12; P < 0.001), ACL reconstructions performed with hamstring tendon autografts compared with bone–patellar tendon–bone (13.5 vs 13.1; P = 0.03) and in those who completed a specific RTS program in addition to standard rehabilitation, compared with those who did not participate (17.1 vs 13.1; P < 0.001). However, the only factor that significantly influenced the K-STARTS score beyond the minimal detectable change threshold was the completion of the additional RTS program. The preinjury frequency of sports participation, whether the dominant limb was injured, time from injury to surgery, the presence of associated meniscal injuries, and whether a lateral tenodesis was performed did not significantly influence the K-STARTS score. Conclusion: Completion of a specific RTS program, in addition to standard rehabilitation, was the most important factor influencing the K-STARTS composite functional and psychological RTS test score at 6 months after ACL reconstruction. Clinical Relevance: This study shows that the completion of a specific RTS program affects positively the RTS test score at 6 months after ACL reconstruction.


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