Predictions of total work based on measures of muscle strength and hop performance in individuals after ACL reconstruction

• Published in: Physical therapy in sport Vol. 59; pp. 130 - 135
• Main Authors: Montalto, Mary C., Thoma, Louise M., McNally, Michael P., Hewett, Timothy E., Paterno, Mark V., Schmitt, Laura C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2023; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries - surgery; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Athletes; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Force; Humans; Joint and ligament injuries; Jump; Knee; Male; Muscle function; Muscle strength; Muscle Strength - physiology; Participation; Physical therapy; Power; Quadriceps femoris; Quadriceps Muscle - physiology; Rehabilitation; Return to sport; Return to Sport - physiology; Software; Sports injuries; Sports medicine; Young Adult; Young adults; Knee; Return to sport; Quadriceps femoris; Jump; Power
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.11.003
• ISSN: 1466-853X

The purpose of this study was to determine the ability to utilize clinical measures of hop performance and thigh muscle strength to predict total limb work, a measure of cumulative single leg power, in young athletes at the time of return to sport after ACLR. We hypothesized that hop test performance and thigh muscle strength would predict total limb work during a maximal effort repeated vertical single-leg jump and that hop test performance would better predict total limb work during a maximal effort repeated vertical single-leg jump than measures of thigh strength. Cross-sectional study. Analysis on data from 50 individuals after unilateral ACLR (74% women, age 14-23 years) Performed 10-s repeated vertical single-leg jump test on a force platform where single limb power and resultant total work were calculated. At the same session, participants completed a clinical single leg hop test battery and thigh strength testing. All clinical measures were associated with total work during the repeated vertical single-leg jump test on the involved and uninvolved limbs, respectfully. After controlling for height and weight, quadriceps femoris peak torque at 180°/s was the strongest predictor of total work for both limbs. On the involved limb, performance on the triple hop test for distance also uniquely contributed to the prediction of total work. Quadriceps femoris muscle strength and distance hop test performance predict total limb work capacity of the involved limb during a single-leg dynamic task. Optimizing both measures after ACLR may positively impact vital components of sports performance. •Quadriceps muscle strength is a reasonable clinical indicator of power output.•Single leg hop performance is a reasonable clinical indicator of power output.•Quadriceps muscle strength can provide insight into recovery of power after ACLR.•Single leg hop performance can provide insight into recovery of power after ACLR.•Optimizing both measures after ACLR can positively impact sport performance.