Validation of a Composite Test for Assessment of Readiness for Return to Sports After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: The K-STARTS Test
Background: There is limited information on the appropriate timing of return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A composite test was developed to assess the athlete’s ability to return to sports after ACL reconstruction: the Knee Santy Athletic Return To Sport (K-STARTS...
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Published in | Sports health Vol. 10; no. 6; pp. 515 - 522 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Los Angeles, CA
SAGE Publications
01.11.2018
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background:
There is limited information on the appropriate timing of return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A composite test was developed to assess the athlete’s ability to return to sports after ACL reconstruction: the Knee Santy Athletic Return To Sport (K-STARTS) test.
Hypothesis:
The K-STARTS test meets validation criteria for an outcome score assessing readiness for return to sports after ACL reconstruction.
Study Design:
Diagnostic study.
Level of Evidence:
Level 3.
Methods:
A prospective comparative study identified 410 participants: 371 participants who had undergone ACL reconstruction and a control group of 39 healthy participants. The K-STARTS score is calculated as the sum of 7 tests (8 components), for a maximal value of 21 points. Construct validity, internal consistency, discriminant validity, and sensitivity to change were used to validate this new test.
Results:
The K-STARTS assessment showed a high completion rate (100%), high reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.87; coefficient of variation, 7.8%), and high sensitivity to change. There was moderate correlation with the ACL Return to Sports after Injury scale (ACL-RSI) and hop tests. There were no ceiling or floor effects. There was a significant difference between K-STARTS scores assessed at 6 and 8 months postoperatively (11.2 ± 2.7 vs 17.1 ± 3.2; P < 0.001). The K-STARTS score in the control group was significantly higher than that in the ACL reconstruction group (17.3 ± 2.1 and 13.7 ± 3.8, respectively; P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The K-STARTS test is an objective outcome measure for functional improvement after ACL reconstruction.
Clinical Relevance:
It is important for the clinician to determine when return to sports is optimal after ACL reconstruction to reduce the current high risk of reinjury. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 PMCID: PMC6204642 |
ISSN: | 1941-7381 1941-0921 |
DOI: | 10.1177/1941738118786454 |