Summary

The evaluation of the two-legged and one-legged vertical jumps limb symmetry in patients two years after ACL reconstruction compared to healthy individuals indicated significant differences in two-legged vertical jumps limb symmetry in patients after reconstruction even though the one-legged jumps limb symmetry was comparable in the studied groups.

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is the standard ACL treatment for individuals wishing to return to high-level sports activity. Unfortunately, the return involves an increased risk of subsequent knee injury. The most significant factor in the occurrence of contralateral ACL injury is return to sport involving jumping, pivoting, and side-stepping of the knee. Some authors suggest that it might be a result of favoring the reconstructed knee while placing the contralateral limb under greater stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate two-legged and one-legged vertical jumps limb symmetry in patients two years after ACLR.
Group I (n=20) consisted of patients averagely 2 years post ACLR. The Group II (n=20) was a control group without know orthopaedic problems. Vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) on landing after two-legged and one-legged vertical jumps were measured in the two studied groups by using two force plates for right and left legs separately. The inter-group analysis of limb symmetry index (LSI) was performed. Prior to the study, the intra-rater and inter-rater test–retest reliability was evaluated.
There were found no significant differences in the one-legged jump LSI between the studied groups, but significant differences were noted in the two-legged vertical jump LSI between groups.
The present study indicated significant differences in two-legged vertical jump limb symmetry in patients two years after ACLR even though the one-legged jump limb symmetry was similar in the studied groups, implying that regaining the two-legged jump limb symmetry is more difficult than regaining the limb symmetry of one-legged one.