Predictions of total work based on measures of muscle strength and hop performance in individuals after ACL reconstruction.
Mary C Montalto, Louise M Thoma, Michael P McNally and 3 others
PMID 36529057WHAT IT FOUND
Quadriceps strength at 180°/s and triple hop distance predicted total limb work in ACLR patients.
This means these clinical tests can estimate a patient's ability to generate and absorb power during jumping. However, isokinetic strength testing is rarely available in standard clinics.
Key findings
01Isokinetic quadriceps strength at 180°/s was the strongest unique predictor of total limb work on both the involved and uninvolved limbs, explaining an additional 8% of variance beyond height and weight.
02Triple hop distance uniquely contributed to predicting total limb work on the involved limb, adding 3% of variance beyond height, weight, and quadriceps strength.
03Total limb work was significantly lower on the involved limb compared to the uninvolved limb in participants returning to sport.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if improving these clinical measures directly causes an improvement in total limb work. The predictive power of the clinical tests was modest; height and weight explained the majority of the variance in total work, not the strength or hop tests. The sample was limited to young, active individuals who were mostly female, which may not generalize to older or male athletes. Isokinetic dynamometry, the strongest predictor, is not available in most clinical settings. The study did not control for the specific rehabilitation progression or the criteria used by surgeons to clear patients for return to sport.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that quadriceps strength or hop test performance are the primary drivers of total limb work capacity. Height and weight explained nearly 55% to 67% of the variance in total work, meaning body size is a stronger predictor than the specific clinical tests evaluated.