| dc.description.abstract | Background: Young and active athletes are at high risk of sustaining an Anterior Cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. In Norway, close to 50% receive surgery, often with the primary goal of returning to the previous level of sports performance. Unfortunately, not all return to sport (RTS) and many experiences short- and long-term problems. The main purpose of this master project was to examine a small sample of young and active adults 12 months after ACL reconstruction pertaining to muscle strength, hop performance, and patient-reported and structural outcomes.
Methods: Data was obtained from the baseline testing for the SHIELD cohort, a research collaboration between Sweden and Norway. The study sample (n=21), age 18-35, was collected in Oslo, Norway. Aims were evaluation of the injured and non-injured leg for isokinetic knee and isometric hip and trunk muscle strength and hop performance, RTS rate and patient reported- and structural outcomes. Investigation of associations between patient-reported outcomes (PROs), The Tegner Activity Scale, RTS, and isokinetic knee and isometric hip and trunk muscle strength and hop performance. Investigation of cartilage defects with The Anterior Cruciate Ligament OsteoArthritis Score (ACLOAS) for magnetic resonance (MRI) and associations between the findings of cartilage defects and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).
Results: The injured leg was significantly weaker in hop performance and isokinetic knee extension compared to the non-injured. Some association was found between KOOS, Tegner Activity Scale, RTS, and isokinetic knee and isometric hip and trunk muscle strength and hop performance. Nine participants had findings of cartilage defects, and no associations were found between these participants and the KOOS score. 50% had returned to sport, and 24% had returned to pre-injury level. No associations were found between RTS and isokinetic knee and isometric hip and trunk muscle strength and hop performance.
Conclusion: 12 months after the ACLR the participants had significant difference between isokinetic knee muscle strength and hop performance, where the non-injured leg was stronger. These results are similar to other studies. There were significant associations between KOOS, Tegner Activity scale and isokinetic knee and isometric hip and trunk muscle strength and hop performance. 52% of the participants had returned to sport, and 24% had returned to pre-injury level, which is similar to a Norwegian study but lower than an international study. 43% had cartilage defects. No associations were found between KOOS, and the present of cartilage defects, which is equivalent to other data. | nb_NO |
