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. 2024 Aug 15;12(8):23259671241263794.
doi: 10.1177/23259671241263794. eCollection 2024 Aug.

Impaired Symmetry in Single-Leg Vertical Jump and Drop Jump Performance 7 Months After ACL Reconstruction

Quentin Giacomazzo  1 , Brice Picot  2   3 , Thomas Chamu  1 , Pierre Samozino  2 , Benoit Pairot de Fontenay  3   4   5
Affiliations

Impaired Symmetry in Single-Leg Vertical Jump and Drop Jump Performance 7 Months After ACL Reconstruction

Quentin Giacomazzo et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) continues to be associated with a variable rate of return to sports and a concerning rate of further anterior cruciate ligament injury. Persistent functional deficits may explain these results and support the need to keep exploring lower limb functional indexes, especially during vertical jumping. This would help improve rehabilitation through the return-to-sports continuum and improve postoperative outcomes.

Hypothesis: Vertical jumping performance indexes are impaired among patients 7 months after ACLR.

Study design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A total of 202 patients who underwent ACLR and 50 healthy participants performed single-leg vertical jump (SLVJ) and single-leg drop jump (SLDJ) testing. Jump height (H) as well as reactive strength index (RSI) were assessed and the limb symmetry index (LSI) of each parameter was compared between both groups. Vertical jumping indexes were also compared between healthy participants and the injured and contralateral legs of ACLR patients. Frequency analysis (chi-square test) of participants exhibiting an LSI >90% for each parameter was calculated in both groups. The level of association between SLVJ-H, SLDJ-H, and SLDJ-RSI was evaluated using the Pearson coefficient (r).

Results: At 6.6 ± 0.7 months (mean ± SD) postoperatively, participants after ACLR exhibited poorer LSI than the control group for all parameters (79.1 ± 14.8 vs 93.9 ± 4.5, 77.3 ± 14.6 vs 93.4 ± 5.2, and 71.9 ± 17.4 vs 93.4 ± 3.8; all P < .001; for the SLVJ-H, SLDJ-H, and SLDJ-RSI, respectively). Vertical jumping performance was lower on both injured and contralateral legs compared with healthy participants (all P < .001). Only 27%, 25%, and 16% of the ACLR patients exhibited an LSI >90% for the SLVJ-H, SLDJ-H, and SLDJ-RSI, respectively, in comparison with 80%, 72%, and 86% in the control group. Moderate correlations were observed between SLDJ-H and SLVJ-H (r = 0.494; P < .001) as well as between SLDJ-RSI and SLVJ-H (r = 0.488; P < .001) in the ACLR group.

Conclusion: Vertical jumping indexes (both symmetry and absolute values) were highly impaired 7 months after ACLR. Deficits were more marked for reactive strength ability. Clinicians should focus on restoring vertical jumping abilities to improve functional performance after ACLR.

Keywords: ACL; jumping; physical therapy/rehabilitation; return to sports.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this contribution. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from Conseil d’Orientation Scientifique Ramsay Santé (COS-RGDS-2023-01-004-PAIROT-DE-FONTENAY-B).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
LSI percentage for the SLVJ-H, SLDJ-H, and SLDJ-RSI for the ACLR and control groups (mean ± SD). LSI, limb symmetry index; ACLR, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; SLDJ-H, single-leg drop jump–height; SLDJ-RSI, single-leg drop jump–reactive strength index; SLVJ-H, single-leg vertical jump–height.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Percentage of participants with limb symmetry index above (gray) or below (black) 90% for SLVJ-H, SLDJ-H, and SLDJ-RSI in the ACLR group (top) and Control group (bottom). ACLR, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; SLDJ-H, single-leg drop jump–height; SLDJ-RSI, single-leg drop jump–reactive strength index; SLVJ-H, single-leg vertical jump–height.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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