Lars Lundgren

Anterior cruciate ligament injury after more than 20 years: I. Physical activity level and knee function

Little is known about physical activity level and knee function including jump capacity and fear of movement/reinjury more than 20 years after injury of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Seventy persons with unilateral ACL injury participated (23u2009±u20092 years post‐injury): 33 treated with physiotherapy in combination with surgical reconstruction (ACLR), and 37 treated with physiotherapy alone (ACLPT). These were compared with 33 age‐ and gender‐matched controls. Assessment included knee‐specific and general physical activity level [Tegner activity scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)], knee function [Lysholm score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)], jump capacity (one‐leg hop, vertical jump, side hops), and fear of movement/reinjury [Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK)]. Outcomes were related to degree of osteoarthritis (OA). ACL‐injured had lower Lysholm, KOOS, and Tegner scores than controls (Pu2009<u20090.001), while IPAQ score was similar. ACL‐injured demonstrated inferior jump capacity in injured compared with noninjured leg (6–25%, Pu2009<u20090.001–Pu2009=u20090.010 in the different jumps), while noninjured leg had equal jump capacity as controls. ACL groups scored 33u2009±u20097 and 32u2009±u20097 of 68 on TSK. Lower scores on Lysholm and KOOS symptom were seen for persons with moderate‐to‐high OA than for no‐or‐low OA, while there were no differences for physical activity and jump capacity. Regardless of treatment, there are still negative knee‐related effects of ACL injury more than 20 years later.