Which hop tests can best identify functional limb asymmetry in patients 9-12 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction employing a hamstrings tendon autograft?

Abstract

Background Hop tests are commonly employed to evaluate functional limb symmetry after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Purpose To investigate the ability of eight hop tests to identify functional limb asymmetry in patients after ACLR. Study Design Prospective cohort. Methods Fifty patients were assessed 9-12 months following ACLR. Functional performance on both the operated and non-operated limb was assessed via eight hop tests, assessed in a randomised order. These included the: single (SHD), triple (THD) and triple crossover (TCHD) hop for distance, 6m timed hop (6MTH), single medial (MHD) and single lateral (LHD) hop for distance, single countermovement jump (SLCMJ) and timed speedy hop (TSHT). Differences in Limb Symmetry Indices (LSIs) across hop tests were compared, while Pearson’s correlations were undertaken to investigate the significance and strength of the association between hop test LSIs. Results Significant differences were observed across hop LSIs (p<0.0001). Mean LSIs for the SHD (95.0%), 6MTH (95.0%), THD (96.1%) and TCHD (95.3%) were ≥90% and significantly greater (p<0.05) than the MHD (87.3%), LHD (87.5%), SLCMJ (83.4%) and TSHT (86.5%), which were all <90%. The LSI for the SLCMJ was significantly lower (p<0.05) than all other hop tests. While significant correlations existed across the majority of hop LSIs, the strongest correlations existed between the SHD, THD and TCHD (r=0.70-0.80), and lowest correlations between the TSHT and the other hop tests (r=0.26-0.49). Conclusions The LHD, MHD and TSHT, as well as the SLCMJ in particular, were best able to demonstrate functional limb asymmetry in patients following ACLR. These hop measures should be incorporated into hop test batteries, if the purpose is to detect the presence of lingering functional deficits. Level of Evidence Level 3.