Individual hop analysis and reactive strength ratios provide better discrimination of ACL reconstructed limb deficits than triple hop for distance scores in athletes returning to sport

Abstract

Surgical treatment and rehabilitation programs for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remain a costly burden to health care services (23). Approximately two thirds of patients successfully return to sport (48); however, re-injury rates are high (~ 35%), occurring to either the reconstructed graft or the contralateral ACL (49). To minimise the risk of re-injury, return-to-sport (RTS) test batteries are used as part of the rehabilitation process to ensure neuromuscular function recovers as close to their pre-injury levels as possible.