Quantitative Improvements in Hop Test Scores After a 6-Week Neuromuscular Training Program.
BACKGROUND
In patients who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), the effect of neuromuscular re-education (NMR) programs on standard hop tests outcomes, including limb symmetry indices (LSIs), is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
Both legs will show improvement in hop test-measured units after neuromuscular training, but the involved leg will show relatively greater improvement leading to improved limb symmetry. Patients younger than 18 years will show more improvement than patients who are older.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Level 3.


METHODS
Patients self-selected their participation in this NMR program, which was completed after traditional outpatient physical therapy. Pre- and post-hop test scores were recorded as the primary outcome measure.


RESULTS
Seventy-one patients met the inclusion criteria and completed hop testing. Overall, the involved leg showed significant improvements (pretest/posttest) for single-leg hop (138.30 cm/156.89 cm), triple crossover hop (370.05 cm/423.11 cm), and timed hop (2.21 s/1.99 s). Similarly, on the uninvolved leg, improvements were seen for the single-leg hop (159.30 cm/171.87 cm) and triple crossover hop (427.50 cm/471.27 cm). Overall mean limb symmetry improved across all 4 hop tests, but there was significant improvement only on the single-leg hop (87% pretest to 92% posttest). Patients younger than 18 years showed mean significant LSI improvement on the triple crossover hop.


CONCLUSIONS
Utilizing an intensive 6-week NMR program after ACLR prior to return to sport can improve quantitative hop test measurements. Patients younger than 18 years had greater improvement than those 18 years and older.


CONCLUSIONS
Advanced NMR programs can be successfully utilized in the postoperative ACLR setting to improve quantitative limb symmetry.
TRIA Orthopaedic Center, Bloomington, Minnesota.
Adam
A
Meierbachtol
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Eric
E
Rohman
TRIA Orthopaedic Center, Bloomington, Minnesota.
Eric
E
Paur
TRIA Orthopaedic Center, Bloomington, Minnesota.
John
J
Bottoms
TRIA Orthopaedic Center, Bloomington, Minnesota.|Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Marc
M
Tompkins
ACL; hop testing; limb symmetry; neuromuscular re-education