Twelve-week quadriceps strength as a predictor of quadriceps strength at time of return to sport testing following bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Joseph P. Hannon, Sharon Wang-Price, Shiho Goto, Steven Singleton, Lindsey Dietrich, James Bothwell, Curtis Bush, Craig Garrison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Restoration of quadriceps strength following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) continues to challenge both patients and clinicians. Failure to adequately restore quadriceps strength has been linked to decreased patients’ self-reported outcomes and an increased risk for re-injury. Early identification of quadriceps strength deficits may assist in tailoring early interventions to better address impairments. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between early (12 weeks following ACL-R) isokinetic peak torque and isokinetic peak torque at time of return to sport (RTS) testing. Study Design Cohort Study Methods A total of 120 participants (males = 55; females =65) were enrolled in the study (age = 16.1±1.4 yrs; height = 1.72±10.5 m; mass = 70.7±16.3 kg). All participants were level 1 or 2 cutting and pivoting sport athletes who underwent a primary bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft ACL-R. Participants were tested at two time points: 12 weeks following surgery and again at time of RTS testing. A linear regression model was carried out to investigate the relationship between age, sex, and isokinetic peak torque at 12 weeks following ACL-R and isokinetic peak torque at time of RTS testing. Results When 12-week isokinetic peak torque was entered first for the hierarchy regression analysis, this factor was predictive of the peak torque at the time of RTS testing, F(1, 118) = 105.6, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.472, indicating that the 12-week quadriceps strength accounted for 47% of the variance in the quadriceps strength at the time of RTS testing. When age and sex were added in the regression analysis, both factors only added 0.8% of variance for the quadriceps strength at the time of RTS testing. Conclusion Isokinetic peak torque at 12 weeks following surgery was shown to be a significantly strong predictor (47%) for isokinetic quadriceps strength recovery at time of RTS. This finding underscores the importance of early restoration of quadriceps strength and that while non-modifiable factors such as sex and age are important, early restoration of quadriceps strength most strongly influences late stage quadriceps strength.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)681-688
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
  • Movement system
  • Quadriceps strength
  • Return to sport

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Twelve-week quadriceps strength as a predictor of quadriceps strength at time of return to sport testing following bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this