title: Static and dynamic postural control in competitive athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the test-retest reliability and compare the static and dynamic postural control values in competitive athletes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty athletes, 8.4 ± 1.8 months after ACL reconstruction, and thirty healthy matched controls were asked to execute single-leg stance and single-legged drop jump tests onto a force plate. Amplitude and velocity in anteroposterior and mediolateral directions, and mean total velocity were measured for static evaluation. Peak vertical ground reaction force (PVGRF) during landing and takeoff and loading rate were measured for dynamic evaluation. To evaluate test-retest reliability, 15 participants of each group repeated the tests 6-8 days after the first session. Mixed model of analysis of variance was used to determine differences between the involved, uninvolved, and control limbs. The test-retest reliability was measured using intraclass correlation coefficient and standard error of measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater postural sway has been observed in the operated leg of ACL-reconstructed athletes compared with the non-operated side (P < 0.01) and the matched limb of the control group (P < 0.01). During landing, PVGRF and loading rate on the uninvolved limb of the athletes who had undergone ACL reconstruction were greater in comparison with those of the control group (P < 0.001). Both static and dynamic postural measures have high test-retest reliability, ranging from 0.73 to 0.88.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Static and dynamic postural measures are reliable tests to evaluate functional performance of athletes following ACL reconstruction. Eight months postsurgery, competitive athletes still demonstrated postural asymmetries, compared to matched controls, which might result in their susceptibility to future ACL injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic study, case-control, Level III.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Koodakyar St, Daneshjou Blvd, Evin, Tehran, Iran. farshid_mohammadi@yahoo.com
authors: Farshid
authors: F
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Mahyar
authors: M
authors: Salavati
authors: Behnam
authors: B
authors: Akhbari
authors: Masood
authors: M
authors: Mazaheri
authors: Mojdeh
authors: M
authors: Khorrami
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Negahban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D056352:Athletes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult