Patient Demographics for The role of strength-related factors on psychological readiness for return to sport following Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction

Psychological readiness following Anterior Cruciate ligament Reconstruction (ACLR)
correlates with different return to sport outcomes. However, the relationship between
strength and power and psychological readiness remains unexplored. The aim of this
study was to investigate the relationship between the Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Return to Sport After Injury (ACL-RSI) scores and various hamstrings and
quadriceps strength and power variables. Twelve participants (20.7±2.5 years old;
174.2±7.5 cm; 70.2±8.5 kg; 18.2±8.3% of body fat) who had an ACLR nine months
or more before the study completed the ACL-RSI questionnaire and isokinetic
strength testing of the hamstrings and quadriceps (60°.s -1 and 180°.s -1 ). Based on
ACL-RSI scores, they were divided into “cases” and “controls”, deemed not
psychologically ready and psychologically ready to return to previous sport
performance (PILOS), respectively. The main findings are that quadriceps’ and
hamstrings’ rate of torque development (RTD) and time since surgery were
determinants of psychological readiness following ACLR. Furthermore, compared to
controls cases showed significantly lower angle-specific quadriceps and hamstrings
torque close to extension and lower RTD, but no difference in peak torque. These
results suggest that physiotherapists should facilitate athletes’ RTS by focusing on
the restoration of RTD and strength at angles close to full knee extension.