title: The SpeedCourt system in rehabilitation after reconstruction surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed at evaluating and finding the advantages of a program with unexpected disturbances (reaction time beyond 200 ms) in the late rehabilitation (5 months) after ACL-surgery compared to current sensomotoric based concepts.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 athletic patients (14 females, 36 males, age: 32.7 ± 10.0 years) were randomized and followed either a new training with the SpeedCourt (28 athletes) or underwent a regular stabilization program (22 athletes). Subjects were assessed at baseline and after 3 weeks, i.e. six sessions in total. The comparison of evaluations (pre- and post-training) was calculated with a two-factorial (time, group) univariate analysis with parameters for flexibility, reaction time, tapping, jump force (uni- and bi-lateral) and anthropometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In between the two groups 5 out of 22 parameters (23 %) showed significant influences, i.e. highest in the lower leg dimensions 15 cm below joint-line of the operated knee joint (η (2) = 0.122), non-operated knee joint (η (2) = 0.200) and the lower leg dimensions 10 cm below joint-line of the non-operated knee joint (η (2) = 0.183). Jump height unilateral and reaction time on the surgically treated leg were also different and improved (η (2) = 0.148; η (2) = 0.138) significantly. Differences in the outcome parameters like tapping, jump height and ground reaction time between the operated and non-operated knee were remarkably reduced in the SpeedCourt intervention group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventional training programs with the SpeedCourt system seem to be advantageous in the late rehabilitation following ACL-knee surgery compared to current sensomotoric based concepts. We achieved improvements of anthropometric and functional parameters. Further studies with larger groups and longer periods of evaluation are necessary to support these data and to possibly establish a new innovative rehabilitation concept. Clinically, the demonstrated SpeedCourt system might help to determine the time "back/return to sports" for athletes more objectively and prospectively reduce the rate of ACL re-injuries.
authors.affiliation: SportsClinic Halle, Center of Joint Surgery, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.affiliation: SportsClinic Halle, Center of Joint Surgery, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Proeger
authors.affiliation: SportsClinic Halle, Center of Joint Surgery, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brehme
authors.affiliation: SportsClinic Halle, Center of Joint Surgery, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pyschik
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Stefan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Delank
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwesig
authors.affiliation: Division for Shoulder Surgery and Sports Medicine, Helios Clinic Warburg, Hueffertstrasse 50, 34414, Warburg, Germany. gfieseler@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fieseler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056352:Athletes; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013177:Sports
keywords: ACL reconstruction; Knee surgery; Rehabilitation; Return to sport; SpeedCourt