Page 88 - Demo
P. 88
Chapter 486adopt a “protective” strategy characterized by stiff movements including limiting range of motion, and co-contraction around the knee joint.30,43,44Markstrom et al. (2022), showed that ACLR individuals with high fear of re-injury implement this aforementioned protective strategy with higher muscular activity patterns to presumably stabilize the knee joint. This study could not find an association between kinematics and fear of injury; however, they did not include measurements of rTR. We have observed a discrepancy in the correlation between rTR and the self-reported knee function and psychological readiness between low and high demanding tasks. Rehabilitation (and thus return to sport) is a process in which the goal is to improve step by step. First to regain full range of motion, and subsequently to improve strength and coordination. Eventually, the transition from gym to field training is made, after which it is time to rejoin team training and finally to return to in competition play. During this continuum, the guidance that is offered to the ACLR patient varies and is adjusted in a patient specific manner during every step of the way. Therefore the tests during this process should also be adapted. It has been suggested to adapt return to sport tests to a certain context, specificity, and intensity for each specific phase (and sport).16Level walking can be a method to determine a patient’s starting point at the beginning of the rehabilitation process. As patients progress in their rehabilitation, more sport specific and demanding tasks are necessary. This is in line with previous research showing that it is important to mimic the intensity of sports situations as closely as possible to be able to assess knee function, during rehabilitation.12 It has been suggested to use reactive, decision-making tests, preferably in a fatigued state.3 However, there is a risk of injury by testing too intensively too early in the rehabilitation process. On the other hand, tasks requiring little effort (such as level walking) do not seem sufficient to provoke rotational forces on the knee joint. The use of more sport specific and high demanding tasks, such as the SLH and side jump, seems to be more optimal to safely provide a biomechanical and psychological challenge. In contrast to low demanding tasks, they require more balance and musculoskeletal control to perform. This in turn results in a potentially better measure of rTR and thus more readily reveal effects of potentially deployed compensatory movement strategies. Using hop Mark Zee.indd 86 03-01-2024 08:56