A test battery for evaluating long term functional outcome after ACLR
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of a functional test battery for evaluating long term functional outcome for return to sport and fatigue-related effects in lower limb function after ACLR.
IRAS ID
91530
Contact name
Fares S Haddad
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Office, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Anterior cruciate is one of the most commonly injured knee ligaments. ACL injury causes laxity and instability and returning to sport is difficult. The ACL reconstruction(ACLR)operation aims to restore stability to allow return to sporting activity, however a lengthy rehabilitation is required, and patients often still have functional deficits even after the rehabilitation, and return to sport carries risk of reinjury. There are few researched functional tests that mimic sport demands, in order to judge when it is safe for ACLR patients to return to sport. The purpose of this study is to investigate lower extremity performance in patients after ACLR by applying objective field-testing methodology through a functional test battery. The effect of fatigue on lower extremity functional performance will also be investigated. Further, we evaluate correlations among the tests of the battery with other reliable and valid objective evaluation instruments. This battery was designed to reflect various functional sport specific capacities and measure both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of functional performance after ACLR. The selected tests include the testing of muscle power, dynamic balance, coordination, pivoting manoeuvres and neuromuscular control. The patients complete the functional battery before and after completing a fatigue protocol. This fatigue protocol consists on the repetition of weight sets on a leg press resistance machine to tire the leg muscles.
The battery consists of measuring affected versus unaffected leg during the below tests:
-Single hop test for distance
-Shuttle run test
-SLVDJ (single leg vertical drop jump)
-Ladder drills test
-Rear foot mechanics while running
-SEBT (Star excursion balance test)
Secondary measures will be taken, including: knee questionnaires, physical activity levels, measures of knee laxity, range of movement and strength. Some devices will monitor the limb during tests: surface Electro-myography and goniometry.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0343
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion