Analysis of Neuromuscular Control and Sensory and Psychological Anxiety Affecting Shock Absorption Capacity in Patients After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery.

The study was very small (16 participants), limiting generalizability and statistical power. It was a single-group descriptive study with no control group, so it cannot compare these patients to healthy individuals or those with different outcomes. Participants were assessed an average of 35.7 months post-surgery, which is much later than typical return-to-sport testing (9-12 months). The landing task may have been too easy, potentially masking relationships with psychological factors. The study is cross-sectional and correlational. It identifies associations but does not prove that reducing co-contraction or improving proprioception will cause better shock absorption. ACL tensile stress or joint forces were not directly measured; the conclusions rely on the loading rate as a proxy for injury risk.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Do not assume that treating co-contraction or proprioceptive deficits will automatically improve landing mechanics or reduce re-injury risk. This was a small, cross-sectional study without a control group or intervention, so it only shows an association, not a causal effect. Additionally, the lack of association with psychological readiness may be due to the late postoperative timing of the assessment rather than a true absence of influence.