The Nature of Rehabilitation Programs to Improve Musculoskeletal, Biomechanical, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Athletes With ACL Reconstruction: A Scoping Review.

CONTEXT: After anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR), athletes commonly undergo prolonged rehabilitation (eg, 9-12 months), but few actually return to preinjury sports activities. The nature (composition, configuration) of an ACL rehabilitation program (ACL-RP) is an important factor in determining rehabilitation outcomes; however, details about the nature of ACL-RPs are reported inconsistently in research studies. To guide future research reporting to support clinical translation and implementation of ACL-RPs, it is necessary to describe the nature, reporting, and outcomes of ACL-RPs in the current literature. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this scoping review was to understand the nature and reporting of various ACL-RPs that address musculoskeletal, biomechanical, functional, or patient-reported outcome measures in adult and pediatric athletes with ACLR. DATA SOURCES: Articles were selected from searches in 5 electronic databases (PubMed, EbscoHost [MEDLINE, SportDiscus, CINAHL Plus], PROQuest, Cochrane, and Embase). STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they evaluated a post-ACL-RP that implemented strength, balance, plyometric, change of direction running, and/or agility running and included self-reported physical function, quality of life, or pain outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Scoping review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted and synthesized to evaluate the reporting of acute program variables (APVs) and exercise descriptors (EDs); 17 studies were included in the final synthesis. RESULTS: Studies reported between 0% and 67% of the APVs and EDs combined. Only 2 studies were considered to have adequate reporting of both APVs and EDs. CONCLUSION: Inadequate reporting of APVs and EDs in past studies restricts the translation and implementation of existing research-based ACL-RPs to present-day clinical contexts.

Hip Strength as a Predictor of Ankle Sprains in Male Soccer Players: A Prospective Study.

CONTEXT: Diminished hip-abductor strength has been suggested to increase the risk of noncontact lateral ankle sprains. OBJECTIVE: To determine prospectively whether baseline hip-abductor strength predicts future noncontact lateral ankle sprains in competitive male soccer players. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Athletic training facilities and various athletic fields. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred ten competitive male soccer players. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Before the start of the sport season, isometric hip-abductor strength was measured bilaterally using a handheld dynamometer. Any previous history of ankle sprain, body mass index, age, height, and weight were documented. During the sport season (30 weeks), ankle injury status was recorded by team medical providers. Injured athletes were further classified based on the mechanism of injury. Only data from injured athletes who sustained noncontact lateral ankle sprains were used for analysis. Postseason, logistic regression was used to determine whether baseline hip strength predicted future noncontact lateral ankle sprains. A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed for hip strength to determine the cutoff value for distinguishing between high-risk and low-risk outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 25 noncontact lateral ankle sprains were confirmed, for an overall annual incidence of 11.9%. Baseline hip-abductor strength was lower in injured players than in uninjured players ( P = .008). Logistic regression indicated that impaired hip-abductor strength increased the future injury risk (odds ratio = 1.10 [95% confidence interval = 1.02, 1.18], P = .010). The strength cutoff to define high risk was ≤33.8% body weight, as determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. For athletes classified as high risk, the probability of injury increased from 11.9% to 26.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced isometric hip-abductor strength predisposed competitive male soccer players to noncontact lateral ankle sprains.

Hip Muscle Strength Predicts Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Male and Female Athletes: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Prospective studies have reported that abnormal movement patterns at the trunk, hip, and knee are associated with noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Impaired hip strength may underlie these abnormal movement patterns, suggesting that diminished hip strength may increase the risk of noncontact ACL injury. PURPOSE: To determine whether baseline hip strength predicts future noncontact ACL injury in athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Before the start of the competitive season, isometric hip strength (external rotation and abduction) was measured bilaterally by use of a handheld dynamometer in 501 competitive athletes (138 female and 363 male athletes) participating in various sports. During the sport season, ACL injury status was recorded, and injured athletes were further classified based on the mechanism of injury (noncontact vs contact). After the season, logistic regression was used to determine whether baseline hip strength predicted future noncontact ACL injury. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed independently for each strength measure to determine the clinical cutoff value between a high-risk and low-risk outcome. RESULTS: A total of 15 noncontact ACL injuries were confirmed (6 females, 9 males), for an overall annual incidence of 3.0% (2.5% for males, 4.3% for females). Baseline hip strength measures (external rotation and abduction) were significantly lower in injured athletes compared with noninjured athletes (P = .003 and P < .001, respectively). Separate logistic regression models indicated that impaired hip strength increased future injury risk (external rotation: odds ratio [OR] = 1.23 [95% CI, 1.08-1.39], P = .001; abduction: OR = 1.12 [95% CI, 1.05-1.20], P = .001). Clinical cutoffs to define high risk were established as external rotation strength ≤20.3% BW (percentage of body weight) or abduction strength ≤35.4% BW. CONCLUSION: Measures of preseason isometric hip abduction and external rotation strength independently predicted future noncontact ACL injury status in competitive athletes. The study data suggest that screening procedures to assess ACL injury risk should include an assessment of isometric hip abduction and/or external rotation strength.