Appropriateness of exercise therapy delivery in chronic low back pain management: cross-sectional online survey of physiotherapy practice in Germany.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, exercise therapy represents the most commonly prescribed physiotherapy service for non-specific, chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). So far, little is known about current practice patterns of German physiotherapists in delivering this intervention. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of exercise therapy delivered to NSCLBP patients in German physiotherapy care and to identify practitioner-related drivers of appropriate exercise delivery. METHODS: We used a vignette-based, exploratory, cross-sectional, online-survey study design (76-items; data collection between May and July 2023). Eligible participants were required to hold a professional degree in physiotherapy and were required to be practicing in Germany. Access links to anonymous online surveys were spread via established German physiotherapy networks, educational platforms, social media, e-mail lists, and snowball sampling. Appropriateness of exercise therapy was calculated by an equally weighted total score (400 points) including scales on shared-decision-making, exercise dose selection, pain knowledge and self-management promotion. "Appropriate exercise delivery" was determined by a relative total score achievement of > 80%. "Partly appropriate exercise delivery" was determined by a relative total score achievement of 50-79%, and "inappropriate exercise delivery" by a score achievement of < 50%. Practitioner-related drivers of exercise appropriateness were calculated by bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: 11.9% (N = 35) of 298 physiotherapists' exercise delivery was considered "appropriate", 83.3% (N = 245) was "partly appropriate", and 4.8% (N = 14) was "inappropriate". In the final multiple regression model, most robust parameters positively influencing appropriate delivery of exercise therapy were increased scientific literacy (B = 10.540; 95% CI [0.837; 20.243]), increased average clinical assessment time (B = 0.461; 95% CI [0.134; 0.789]), increased self-perceived treatment competence (B = 7.180; 95% CI [3.058; 11.302], and short work experience (B = - 0.520; 95% CI [-0.959; - 0.081]). CONCLUSION: Appropriate exercise delivery in NSCLBP management was achieved by only 11.9% of respondents. However, the vast majority of 95.2% of respondents was classified to deliver exercise therapy partly appropriate. Long work experience seemed to negatively affect appropriate exercise delivery. Positive influences were attributed to scientific literacy, the average clinical assessment time per patient as well as the perceived treatment competence in NSCLBP management. REGISTRATION: Open science framework: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/S76MF .

Inferior patellar mobility before and after knee arthroplasty: A comparison with healthy knees.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate patellar mobility in patients before and after knee arthroplasty (KA) and compare it with that of healthy subjects. It was hypothesised that patellar mobility is diminished in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and remains unchanged after KA. METHODS: A total of 101 patients (59 females and 42 males) with a mean age of 70.9 ± 9.9 years underwent KA and were compared with 25 healthy individuals (seven females and 18 males) with a mean age of 32.3 ± 9.3 years. Mediolateral patellar displacement was measured by applying a force of 10 N, and the medial and lateral patellar shifts were recorded separately using a validated novel patellostabilometer. Patients were examined preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively, assessing the range of knee motion and the clinical and functional status based on the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Kujala Score, subjective Knee Society Score (sKSS), Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). RESULTS: Total patellar displacement was 42.1 ± 6 mm for healthy subjects, 31 ± 6 mm before surgery and 32.8 ± 7.8 mm after surgery in osteoarthritic patients (p < 0.01). The mean lateral patellar shift differed significantly between healthy individuals (17.9 ± 4 mm) and osteoarthritic patients (15.1 ± 6 mm) (p < 0.01). The mean medial patellar mobility of healthy individuals (24.2 ± 7 mm) was significantly greater than that of osteoarthritic patients (15.8 ± 4.8 mm) (p < 0.01). All scores improved significantly postoperatively. No correlation was found between patellar mobility and OKS, Kujala Score, sKSS, FJS and WOMAC (r = -0.11). Improvement in patellar mobility also showed no correlation with clinical outcomes according to OKS, Kujala Score, sKSS, FJS and WOMAC (r = 0.08). CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated reduced patellar mobility in patients with OA. While patellar mobility significantly improved after KA, it may not hold clinical significance (p = 0.04). No impact on clinical outcome can be expected when the presurgical patella mobility is preserved in KA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

High three-dimensional accuracy of component placement and lower limb alignment using a robotic arm-assisted system and gap-balancing instrument in total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: It was hypothesized that robotic arm-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) using additionally a gap-balancing instrumentation will show high accuracy in executing the planning in femoral and tibial component placement throughout the range of knee motion (ROM) during TKA surgery. METHODS: Prospectively collected data were analysed for patients undergoing RA-TKA. A cruciate retaining cemented design was implanted using the MAKO® robotic system. Lower limb alignment at 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° of flexion was recorded at the beginning of surgery and finally after implantation of the components. A ligament tensioner was inserted after tibial precut to measure the extension and flexion gap, and final component placement was planned based on 3D CT images. Femoral and tibial component placement was measured in all three planes. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were included (mean age 69.4 ± 9 years; 44 male, 60 female). The difference in component placement after planning and final implantation showed less valgus of 0.7° ± 1.4° (p < 0.001), less external rotation of 0.6° ± 1.9° (p = 0.001) and less flexion of 0.9° ± 1.8° (p < 0.001) for the femoral component. The tibial component was placed in more varus of 0.2° ± 0.9° (p = 0.056) and more posterior slope of 0.5° ± 0.9° (p < 0.001). The lower limb alignment in extension was 4.4° ± 5.2° of varus of the native knee and changed to 1.2° ± 1.9° of varus after TKA (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted TKA helps to achieve the target of alignment and component placement very close to the planning. It allows optimal component placement of off-the-shelf implants respecting patient's specific anatomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Treatment of anterior knee pain due to chondromalacia patellae with platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid in young and middle-aged adults, a cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior knee pain commonly affects young women resulting in the declination of the quality of life. One of the possible pathologies causing this symptom is chondromalacia patellae (CMP). Although CMP is used to describe the softening of patellar articular cartilage, it remains a general descriptive term as it cannot be associated with a specific pathophysiologic mechanism. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of injectable PRP on patients with anterior knee pain in absence of altered patellofemoral joint anatomy. METHODS: For this purpose, 43 patients of the affected population were recruited to participate in this non-randomized controlled trial, 28 patients in the injection group and 15 in the only-physiotherapy group. While patients in the experimental group received three PRP injections and one injection of hyaluronic acid (HA), comparators received the standard physical therapy regimen. The treatment choice was based on patients own decree. Patients between the ages of 18 to 50 years with anterior knee pain and positive Clarke´s sign were eligible for inclusion. Patients with evident anatomical abnormalities, chronic conditions affecting the knee and severe symptoms such as blocking, were excluded from the study. Patient related measures (PROMS) in the form of the VAS and the Kujala scores were the main outcome of interest. All outcomes were measured at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months after the treatment. RESULTS: Although an improvement was seen in both groups, a statistically significant difference favoring the injection of PRP over the physiotherapy-only group was observed (p < 0.001). The superiority of the therapeutic modality under investigation was observed at 3 and 6 months after the initial diagnosis was made. Furthermore, the results of this study revealed a significant improvement at 3 and 6 months when compared to baseline measures. The analysis of the patients age showed a negative correlation when baseline values were compared to measures at 3 and 6 months, meaning younger patients had more benefit from the treatment. DISCUSSION: The main results of this study affirm the positive effects of PRP and HA for the treatment of anterior knee pain described by previous research and the subsequent improvement of the quality of life. Relatively little information was found in the literature search regarding the therapeutic effects of PRP on anterior knee pain and chondropathies. While a previous radiologic study found no evidence regarding the effect of PRP, this study found a benefit when comparing PROMs between patient groups.

Evaluating the Reliability of MyotonPro in Assessing Muscle Properties: A Systematic Review of Diagnostic Test Accuracy.

Background and Objectives: Muscle properties are critical for performance and injury risk, with changes occurring due to physical exertion, aging, and neurological conditions. The MyotonPro device offers a non-invasive method to comprehensively assess muscle biomechanical properties. This systematic review evaluates the reliability of MyotonPro across various muscles for diagnostic purposes. Materials and Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in Medline (PubMed), Ovid (Med), Epistemonikos, Embase, Cochrane Library, Clinical trials.gov, and the WHO International Clinical Trials platform. Studies assessing the reliability of MyotonPro across different muscles were included. A methodological quality assessment was performed using established tools, and reviewers independently conducted data extraction. Statistical analysis involved summarizing intra-rater and inter-rater reliability measures across muscles. Results: A total of 48 studies assessing 31 muscles were included in the systematic review. The intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were consistently high for parameters such as frequency and stiffness in muscles of the lower and upper extremities, as well as other muscle groups. Despite methodological heterogeneity and limited data on specific parameters, MyotonPro demonstrated promising reliability for diagnostic purposes across diverse patient populations. Conclusions: The findings suggest the potential of MyotonPro in clinical assessments for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of muscle properties. Further research is needed to address limitations and enhance the applicability of MyotonPro in clinical practice. Reliable muscle assessments are crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes and improving patient care in various healthcare settings.

A communal catalogue reveals Earth's multiscale microbial diversity.

Our growing awareness of the microbial world's importance and diversity contrasts starkly with our limited understanding of its fundamental structure. Despite recent advances in DNA sequencing, a lack of standardized protocols and common analytical frameworks impedes comparisons among studies, hindering the development of global inferences about microbial life on Earth. Here we present a meta-analysis of microbial community samples collected by hundreds of researchers for the Earth Microbiome Project. Coordinated protocols and new analytical methods, particularly the use of exact sequences instead of clustered operational taxonomic units, enable bacterial and archaeal ribosomal RNA gene sequences to be followed across multiple studies and allow us to explore patterns of diversity at an unprecedented scale. The result is both a reference database giving global context to DNA sequence data and a framework for incorporating data from future studies, fostering increasingly complete characterization of Earth's microbial diversity.

Research designs and instruments to detect physiotherapy overuse of low-value care services in low back pain management: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The provision of low-value physiotherapy services in low back pain management is a known but complex phenomenon. Thus, this scoping review aims to systematically map existing research designs and instruments of the field in order to discuss the current state of research methodologies and contextualize results to domains and perspectives of a referred low-value care typology. Ultimately, results will be illustrated and transferred to conditions of the German health care setting as care delivery conditions of physiotherapy in Germany face unique particularities. METHODS: The development of this review is guided by the analysis framework of Arksey and O'Malley. A two-stage, audited search strategy was performed in Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, and google scholar. All types of observational studies were included. Identified articles needed to address a pre-determined population, concept, and context framework and had to be published in English or German language. The publication date of included articles was not subject to any limitation. The applied framework to assess the phenomenon of low-value physiotherapy services incorporated three domains (care effectiveness; care efficiency; patient alignment of care) and perspectives (provider; patient; society) of care. RESULTS: Thirty-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-nine percent of articles focused on the appropriateness of physiotherapeutic treatments, followed by education and information (30%), the diagnostic process (15%), and goal-setting practice (12%). Study designs were predominantly cross-sectional (58%). Data sources were mainly survey instruments (67%) of which 50% were self-developed. Most studies addressed the effectiveness domain of care (73%) and the provider perspective (88%). The perspective of patient alignment was assessed by 6% of included articles. None of included articles assessed the society perspective. Four methodical approaches of included articles were rated to be transferrable to Germany. CONCLUSION: Identified research on low-value physiotherapy care in low back pain management was widely unidimensional. Most articles focused on the effectiveness domain of care and investigated the provider perspective. Most measures were indirectly and did not monitor low-value care trends over a set period of time. Research on low-value physiotherapy care in secondary care conditions, such as Germany, was scarce. REGISTRATION: This review has been registered on open science framework ( https://osf.io/vzq7k https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PMF2G ).

High variation among clinical studies in the assessment of physical function after knee replacement: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to summarise the current use of outcome measures for the assessment of physical function after knee joint replacement. METHODS: A systematic approach following the PRISMA guidelines was used. Literature search was performed on MEDLINE database via PubMed and on Epistemonikos. Clinical trials (level of evidence I-II) on knee joint replacement reporting data on the 'physical function' domain published between January 2017 and June 2022 were included. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the evidence. RESULTS: In the 181 articles that met the inclusion criteria, 49 different outcome measurements were used to evaluate clinical outcomes after knee joint replacement. The most frequently adopted patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were the Knee Society Score (KSS) (78 studies; 43.1%), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Arthritis Index (62 studies; 34.3%), the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) (51 studies; 28.2%) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (36 studies; 20%). The most frequently used performance-based outcome measures (PBOMs) were the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test (30 studies; 16.6%) and the 6-min-walk test (6MWT) (21 studies; 11.6%). Among impairment-based outcome measures (IBOMs), range of motion (ROM) was the most used (74 studies; 40.9%). CONCLUSION: There is considerable variation among clinical studies regarding the assessment of the physical function of patients after knee joint replacement. PROMs were found to be the most commonly adopted outcome measures; however, no single PROM was used in more than half of the papers analysed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, systematic review of level I-II studies.

Improving the reliability of measurements in orthopaedics and sports medicine.

A large space still exists for improving the measurements used in orthopaedics and sports medicine, especially as we face rapid technological progress in devices used for diagnostic or patient monitoring purposes. For a specific measure to be valuable and applicable in clinical practice, its reliability must be established. Reliability refers to the extent to which measurements can be replicated, and three types of reliability can be distinguished: inter-rater, intra-rater, and test-retest. The present article aims to provide insights into reliability as one of the most important and relevant properties of measurement tools. It covers essential knowledge about the methods used in orthopaedics and sports medicine for reliability studies. From design to interpretation, this article guides readers through the reliability study process. It addresses crucial issues such as the number of raters needed, sample size calculation, and breaks between particular trials. Different statistical methods and tests are presented for determining reliability depending on the type of gathered data, with particular attention to the commonly used intraclass correlation coefficient.

The Patellostabilometer: A New Device for Quantification of Mediolateral Patella Displacement.

Mediolateral patella displacement is of interest for diagnostics and clinically relevant research questions. Apart from manual testing, no standardized method is currently available. Proper quantification of patella mobility is necessary to better understand pathologies at the patellofemoral joint. Patella mobility was assessed in 25 healthy individuals using a Patellostabilometer, a new prototype instrument for quantification of the mediolateral patella displacement. The participants underwent measurements of the mediolateral displacement three times using the Patellostabilometer. A maximal force of 10 N was applied for patella movement. Additionally, leg length and circumference of the knee, upper- and lower-leg were measured. Lateral patella displacement of 18.27 ± 3.76 mm (range 15.85-20.64 mm, interquartile range (IQR) of 4.79) was measured. The medial patella displacement showed 24.47 ± 6.59 mm (range 19.29-29.76 mm, IQR of 10.47). The test-retest measurement error was 2.32 ± 1.76 mm (IQR of 2.38 mm), with five outliers. There was greater test-retest variability between the measurements of the medial displacement compared to the lateral one. The test-retest variability reached 7% of the patella displacement. Other parameters provided no significant correlations. Based on the natural patellofemoral mobility, a precise and clinically relevant quantification of patella mobility is allowed.

Acetabular cup placement and offset control in robotic total hip arthroplasty performed through the modified anterolateral approach.

PURPOSE: The modified anterolateral approach (Röttinger) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) offers great advantages over conventional approaches, especially concerning early postoperative symptoms, which are mild and well tolerated by patients. Robotic-assisted implantation might facilitate rapid adoption of the modified anterolateral approach without exposing surgeons to risks encountered during the learning curve. This study posits that the use of robotic assistance in conjunction with the modified anterolateral approach for total hip arthroplasty (THA) can provide a substantial enhancement in the accuracy of cup placement in comparison to manual surgery. METHODS: Thirty-two robotic-assisted THAs met the inclusion criteria and were matched to 32 conventional cases. Acetabular cup inclination, anteversion, limb-length discrepancy, and acetabular offset were assessed using certified planning software by two independent observers using pre- and postoperative anterior-posterior radiographs. Data was analyzed for normal distribution. Chi2 test was used to determine whether implanted acetabular cups that were within Lewinnek's safe zones were influenced by type of implantation. Effect size estimates and statistical power analysis were also performed to appreciate the appropriateness of the chosen sample size. RESULTS: Robotic-assisted implantation was found to significantly improve acetabular cup placement in terms of inclination (p < 0.001) but not anteversion (p = 0.783). Although mean postoperative limb-length discrepancy and mean acetabular offset did not differ between groups, a significantly smaller variance was found in the robotic-assisted group (p < 0.001) and (p = 0.04), respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of consistently implanting the acetabular cup within the Lewinnek safe zones p = 0.641 for anteversion and p = 0.230 for inclination, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that although robotic-assisted acetabular cup implantation performed through the modified anterolateral approach did not significantly differ from conventional implantation, it did offer increased accuracy in cup positioning, acetabular bone preservation, and limb-length restoration.

No correlation between symmetry-based performance measures and patient-related outcome prior to and after total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Standardized outcome measures are crucial for the evaluation of different treatment and rehabilitation regimes in patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Performance-based measures are necessary to capture different aspects of physical function. High reliability and agreement of five performance-based measures were hypothesized to differentiate between measurement error and change in test performance. Secondary outcomes are the correlation of performance-based measurements to KSS and WOMAC prior to surgery (baseline) and 10 weeks thereafter (t3). METHODS: The test-retest reliabilities and agreements of the 1-m walk test, the stair-climbing test, the timed-up-and-go test, the weight-balanced-chair-rising test and the isometric maximum knee extension force in patients undergoing total knee replacements were studied. The intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated and a Bland-Altman analysis performed. RESULTS: The weight-balanced-chair-rising test showed a symmetry at baseline = 0.77, 5 ± 1 days after surgery (t1) = 0.50, 9 ± 1 days (t2) = 0.59 and (t3) = 0.80. All performance tests showed high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC = 0.81-0.99). The 10-m walk test, stair climbing test, and the timed-up-and-go test showed high agreement in the Bland-Altman analysis. The Bland-Altman analysis for the weight-balanced-chair-rising test and isometric knee extension force indicated high agreement at 5 and 9 days postoperatively, but the relative measurement error increased pre- and 10 weeks postoperatively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, symmetry, as an important outcome after TKA, is a reliable and rather unique item that should unquestionably be added to established measurements like walking tests or survey-based function assessment. The implementation of standardized performance-based measures to assess physical function in rehabilitation procedures will help to improve the more objectively based assessment of different rehabilitation protocols. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Author guidelines for conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

This article is a guidance how to write systematic reviews (SR's) and meta-analyses (MA) in orthopaedics and which aspects to focus on for transparency, systematicity and readability. Both SR and MA summarise and synthesise the best evidence available on a specific topic. This requires a systematic, structured and transparent process of analysis. The title should be concise, indicate type of review and ideally report the most important finding. Next, the structured abstract (no more than 350 words) should also raise key points and report the overall level of evidence. A relevant clinical question must be defined before the literature search is started. Methodological details such as databases searched, the exact search strategy (including time frame), inclusion/exclusion criteria, method of literature appraisal and statistical analysis must be described briefly. The primary and secondary outcomes should be mentioned. SR's be pre-registered before data extraction, to ensure transparency and the reduction of risk of bias. If registered, registration number should be stated in the abstract and the funding sources. A clear summary of the findings is important including the number of identified studies (depicted in a flowchart) and for meta-analyses a forest plot. The results of the literature appraisal and statistical analyses should be reported precisely. Subsequently, a general interpretation of findings and their significance and relevance to clinical practice should be provided. Clinical implications from the analysis should be drawn carefully and further research questions should be addressed. Finally, a conclusion, based solely on the results of the study is a necessity. Up to ten keywords are requested representing the main content of the article. Most applicable keywords should facilitate finding the manuscript in the databases and therefor considered carefully.

A Systematic Review of Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Applications of Wearable Movement Sensors for Knee Joint Rehabilitation.

In clinical practice, only a few reliable measurement instruments are available for monitoring knee joint rehabilitation. Advances to replace motion capturing with sensor data measurement have been made in the last years. Thus, a systematic review of the literature was performed, focusing on the implementation, diagnostic accuracy, and facilitators and barriers of integrating wearable sensor technology in clinical practices based on a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. For critical appraisal, the COSMIN Risk of Bias tool for reliability and measurement of error was used. PUBMED, Prospero, Cochrane database, and EMBASE were searched for eligible studies. Six studies reporting reliability aspects in using wearable sensor technology at any point after knee surgery in humans were included. All studies reported excellent results with high reliability coefficients, high limits of agreement, or a few detectable errors. They used different or partly inappropriate methods for estimating reliability or missed reporting essential information. Therefore, a moderate risk of bias must be considered. Further quality criterion studies in clinical settings are needed to synthesize the evidence for providing transparent recommendations for the clinical use of wearable movement sensors in knee joint rehabilitation.

Increase in cartilage degeneration in all knee compartments after failed ACL reconstruction at 4 years of follow-up.

PURPOSE: Degeneration of the cartilage after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) is known, and further deterioration can be expected in patients with tunnel malplacement or partial meniscal resection. It was hypothesized that there is a significant increase in cartilage degeneration after failed ACL-R. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Isolated ACL revision surgery was performed in 154 patients at an interval of 46 ± 33 months (5-175 months) between primary and revision surgery. Cartilage status at the medial, lateral femorotibial, and patellofemoral compartments were assessed arthroscopically during primary and revision ACL-R in accordance with the Outerbridge classification. Tunnel placement, roof angle, and tibial slope was measured using anteroposterior and lateral radiographic views. RESULTS: Cartilage degeneration increased significantly in the medial femorotibial compartment, followed by the lateral and patellofemoral compartments. There was a correlation between both cartilage degeneration in the patellofemoral compartment (PFC) (rs = 0.28, p = 0.0012) and medial tibial plateau (Rs = 0.24, p = 0.003) in relation to the position of tibial tunnel in the frontal plane. Worsening of the cartilage status in the medial femorotibial compartment, either femoral or tibial, was correlated with the tibial aperture site in the lateral view (Rs = 0.28, p < 0.001). Cartilage degeneration in the lateral compartment of the knee, on both femoral or tibial side, was inversely correlated with the femoral roof angle (Rs = -0.1985, p = 0.02). Meniscal tears, either at the medial or lateral site or at both, were found in 93 patients (60%) during primary ACL-R and increased to 132 patients (86%) during revision ACL-R. DISCUSSION: Accelerated cartilage degeneration and high prevalence of meniscal lesions are seen in failed ACL-R. Tunnel placement showed significant impact on cartilage degeneration and may partially explain the increased risk of an inferior outcome when revision surgery is required after failed primary ACL-R. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-retrospective cohort study.

Body Composition and Strength Parameters in Elite Judo Athletes 5 Years after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

The purpose of this study was to investigate if there are still deficits in muscle mass or strength capabilities in elite judo athletes with a history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) after their return to the sport. Therefore, bioimpedance analysis, 3D-laser thigh circumference measurement and isokinetic dynamometry in a closed kinetic chain were used. The side-to-side differences were investigated in a group of judo athletes 5 years after ACLR (n=17) and compared with a group of healthy judo athletes (n=27). Neither thigh circumferences, nor muscle masses of the lower extremities differed in formerly injured judo athletes compared to healthy judo athletes. In contrast, isokinetic strength testing showed a significantly larger side-to-side difference of peak muscle force in formerly injured judo athletes (p=0.021). They provided significantly lower peak forces with the formerly injured leg than with the non-injured leg (p<0.001). The authors conclude that strength capabilities, but not body composition, remains altered in recovered judo athletes in mean 5 years after ACLR and definitely after their return to sports. This indicates that the focus of rehabilitation protocols and return to sports assessments should focus more on maximum strength capabilities.