OBJECTIVE:
Hop and jump tests are frequently used in clinical situations in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction. We are not aware of any study that analyses correlation of functional tests with clinical tests after three years of reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between functional and clinical tests.
METHOD:
Twelve male patients with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were assessed. They performed a one-legged hop test and one-legged jump and reach test, to evaluate knee function. Clinical assessments were: (a) instrumental knee laxity measurement, (b) Q angle, (c) knee flexor and (d) extensor muscle strength. To determine the relationship between functional and clinical tests, a correlation analysis was performed by means of the Spearman correlation coefficient. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS:
In anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed vs. healthy knees, hop and jump performance correlated well with muscle strength. Knee laxity did not affect hop and jump performance.
CONCLUSIONS:
The correlation of functional and strength tests in each group showed functional performance was restored and was independent of anterior knee laxity three years after reconstruction when compared with the contralateral healthy knee. The single-legged hop test correlated better with knee muscle strength and could give information about muscle strength three years after reconstruction. Q angle and extensor strength must be considered together when evaluating hop performance.
KEYWORDS:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Knee Recosntruction; Test; Outcome