Fältström A, Hägglund M, Hedevik H, Kvist J. Self-reported knee function and activity level are reduced after primary or additional anterior cruciate ligament injury in female football players: a five-year follow-up study.
Braz J Phys Ther 2023;
27:100573. [PMID:
38043159 PMCID:
PMC10703595 DOI:
10.1016/j.bjpt.2023.100573]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Playing football involves a high risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and these may affect knee function and activity level.
OBJECTIVES
To measure changes in self-reported knee function, activity level, and satisfaction with knee function and activity level in female football players with or without an ACL-reconstructed knee.
METHODS
Female football players, age 19.9 (SD 2.6) years, with either a primary ACL-reconstruction 1.6 (SD 0.7) years after ACL-reconstruction (n = 186) or no ACL injury (n = 113) were followed prospectively for five years. Self-reported data collected at baseline and follow-up included knee function (International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form [IKDC-SKF]), activity level (Tegner Activity Scale), and satisfaction with knee function (Likert scale 1=happy; 7=unhappy) and activity level (1-10 scale). Information on any new ACL injury during the follow-up period was collected.
RESULTS
Players with ACL-reconstruction at baseline who either did (n = 56) or did not (n = 130) sustain an additional ACL injury, and players with no injury at baseline who remained injury free (n = 101) had a lower Tegner score at follow-up. Players with additional ACL injury had lower IKDC-SKF score (mean difference: -11.4, 95% CI: -16.0, -6.7), and satisfaction with activity level (mean difference: -1.5, 95% CI: -2.3, -0.7) at follow-up. Players with no additional ACL injury had higher satisfaction with knee function (mean difference: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.3, 0.9) at follow-up. Players with no ACL injury had lower satisfaction with activity level (mean difference: -0.7, 95% CI: -1.1, -0.3) at follow-up. Players with additional ACL injury had larger decreases in all variables measured compared to the two other groups.
CONCLUSION
Primary, and even more so additional, ACL injuries decreased self-reported knee function, activity level, and satisfaction with knee function and activity level in female football players.
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