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. 2012 Oct;40(10):2256-63.
doi: 10.1177/0363546512454656. Epub 2012 Aug 9.

No association of time from surgery with functional deficits in athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: evidence for objective return-to-sport criteria

Gregory D Myer  1 , Larry Martin Jr, Kevin R Ford, Mark V Paterno, Laura C Schmitt, Robert S Heidt Jr, Angelo Colosimo, Timothy E Hewett
Affiliations

No association of time from surgery with functional deficits in athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: evidence for objective return-to-sport criteria

Gregory D Myer et al. Am J Sports Med. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Release for full activity and return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is often dictated by time from surgery and subjective opinion by the medical team. Temporal guidelines for return to sport may not accurately identify impaired strength and neuromuscular control, which are associated with increased risk for second injury (contralateral and/or ipsilateral limb) after ACLR in athletes.

Hypotheses: Athletes undergoing ACLR and returning to sport would demonstrate functional deficits that would not be associated with time from surgery.

Study design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: Thirty-three male (n = 10) and female (n = 23) athletes with unilateral ACLR, who were cleared by a physician to return to their sport after surgery and rehabilitation, performed the single-legged vertical hop test for 10 seconds on a portable force plate. Matched teammates of each patient were recruited to serve as sex-, sport-, and age-matched controls (CTRL; n = 67). Maximum vertical ground-reaction force (VGRF) was measured during each single-limb landing. Single-limb symmetry index (LSI) was calculated as the ratio of the involved divided by uninvolved limb, expressed as a percentage.

Results: The single-limb vertical jump height LSI was reduced in the ACLR group, 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 83%-95%), compared with the matched CTRL group, 101% (95% CI, 96%-105%; P < .01). The LSI for VGRF normalized to potential energy achieved during flight of the hop was increased in ACLR at 112% (95% CI, 106%-117%) relative to the CTRL group at 102% (95% CI, 98%-106%; P < .01). Linear regression analysis indicated that time from surgery was not associated with limb symmetry deficits in the ACLR group (P > .05; R (2) = .002-.01).

Conclusion: Deficits in unilateral force development (vertical jump height) and absorption (normalized VGRF) persist in an athlete's single-limb performance after ACLR and full return to sports. These symmetry deficits appear to be independent of time after reconstruction.

Clinical relevance: On the basis of these results, clinicians should consider assessment of single-limb power performance in the decision-making process for return-to-sport release. Persistent side-to-side asymmetries may increase the risk of contralateral and/or ipsilateral injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant performing vertical single-legged hop test.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Association of limb-to-limb (uninvolved – involved) deficits for vertical jump height with time from surgery. CM, centimeter.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Association of limb-to-limb (uninvolved – involved) deficits for normalized vertical ground-reaction force (VGRF) during single-legged landing with time from surgery.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean and standard error of the mean for limb symmetry index (in percentages) for the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) group compared with the control (CTRL) group for vertical jump height and normalized vertical ground-reaction force (VGRF) during single-legged landing.
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