Functional status in non-elite football players 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Background: Objective criteria to accurately evaluate the ability of a patient to make a risk-free return to their previous level of activity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and to progress through stages of the rehabilitation process are still widely discussed. Objective: The goal of the study was to investigate the functional status of non-elite football players 6 months after ACLR based on the Functional Movement Screen test (FMS) and side-to-side differences of isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring peak torque between the operated (OP) and non-operated (NOP) extremities. Methods: A total of 35 football players (male:female ratio 31:4, mean age 24.7 +/- 2.8 years) who had undergone primary and isolated ACLR were assessed 6 months (mean 6.1 +/- 2.6) after surgery. Functional performance evaluation included the FMS test and isokinetic quadriceps/hamstring peak torque values examined using the Biodex Testing System at angular velocities of 60 deg/s and 180 deg/s. In addition, side-to-side differences for flexion and extension at both angular velocities were calculated by the limb symmetry index. Results: In the functional assessment, the overall score of the FMS test was 15.34 +/- 2.60. Moreover, inter-extremity differences in all isokinetic strength tests were statistically significant. Isokinetic strength peak torques of quadriceps and hamstring of NOP were significantly higher than those of OP at both angular velocities (p < .001). The limb symmetry index results for recorded peak torques at 60 deg/s were 75% in extension and 88% in flexion and at 180 deg/s were 79% in extension and 86% in flexion. Conclusion: The presented data indicate explicit inter-extremity muscles strength differences and disturbances in global movement patterns after ACLR. Delayed recovery of muscle strength and disparities between the OP and NOP limbs 6 months after ACLR may undermine the patient's readiness to return to preoperative activity.