Optimizing Plyometric Training for Functional Recovery Post-ACL Reconstruction

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Clinical Trial

Official title:

Optimizing Plyometric Training for Functional Recovery Post-ACL Reconstruction

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02148172
• Other study ID #: UM IRB 282-13
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 2014
• Est. completion date: December 2018

Study information

• Verified date: April 2019
• Source: University of Montana
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

While surgical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) of the knee restores passive stability, studies are showing consistently poor long-term outcomes. Unusually high risks of early-onset osteoarthritis and re-injury, and low rate of return to sport following ACLR all seem to be related to a chronic tendency to land stiff-legged from a jump or hop, which itself may be due to fear of re-injury. Decreased knee bending for force absorption simultaneously decreases performance level and increases risk for injury and arthritic changes.

The purpose of the proposed study is to compare a current best-practice plyometric training program to one utilizing body weight support to increase repetition and improve performance in the initial phases. The investigators hypothesize that we will see larger improvements in absorptive capacity of the knee and better confidence in activity immediately following body weight support training, as well as improved retention of training effects after a two-month period.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 47
• Est. completion date: December 2018
• Est. primary completion date: December 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 12 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• speak and understand English

• age between 12-35 years

• unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between 6-48 months prior

• activity level greater than or equal to level 5 on the Tegner Activity Scale

Exclusion Criteria:

• Weight in excess of 300 pounds (136 kg)

• contralateral/bilateral ACL reconstruction or an unreconstructed ACL injury

• history of a posterior cruciate ligament injury

• lower extremity of back injury or other condition (e.g. cerebral palsy) that has limited their normal activities of daily living within the last 6 months

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
• Knee Injuries
• Knee Injury
• Wounds and Injuries

Intervention

Procedure:
• Standard Plyometric Training
Participants will undergo individualized practice exercises of jumping, hopping, and cutting tasks consistent with standard published exercises.
• Plyometric Training with BWS
Participants will undergo individualized practice exercises of jumping, hopping, and cutting tasks consistent with standard published exercises while their body weight is supported via adjustable harness.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Montana, Movement Science Laboratory	Missoula	Montana

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Montana	American Physical Therapy Association, Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc.

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in sagittal plane knee kinetics and kinematics		Baseline and after 8 weeks of training
Primary	Change in psychological readiness for sports activities via survey scores		baseline and after 8 weeks of training
Primary	Change in motor patterning via electromyography of quadriceps and hamstring muscles		Baseline and after 8 weeks of training
Secondary	Retention of Biomechanical Adaptions in Knee kinetics and kinematics		Change from end of 8 weeks of training to 2 month follow-up
Secondary	Retention of adaptations in Psychological Readiness for Sport via survey		Change from end of 8 weeks of training to 2 month follow-up
Secondary	Retention of adaptations in motor patterning via electromyography		Change from end of 8 weeks of training to 2 month follow-up