Quantitative, qualitative or a combined movement assessment during return to sport testing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract

Currently the majority of patients do not pass well-defined criteria to safely RTS following ACLR. Valid clinical-oriented RTS criteria are necessary because re-injuries are common.

The main goal of this study was to assess the relationship between quantity and quality of movement in an ACLR group 6 months following surgery. The second goal of this study was to assess the relationship between: (1) PROMs and quantity of movement and (2) PROMs and quality of movement. A third goal of this study was to assess the percentage of patients that would pass a well-defined RTS test battery.

No significant correlations were found between quantitative and qualitative outcomes. PROMS were high to very high statistically significant correlated with quantitative and qualitative outcomes. None of the patients passed the RTS test battery

There was no clear association between quantitative and qualitative outcomes. This highlights the importance of multifactorial RTS test batteries because both quantitative and qualitative outcomes have been associated with re-injuries in previous studies. Strong statistically significant correlations were found between PROMs and quantitative outcomes. No clear association was found between PROMs and qualitative outcomes.