Anterior cruciate ligament injury after more than 20 years: I. Physical activity level and knee function.

Little is known about physical activity level and knee function including jump capacity and fear of movement/reinjury more than 20 years after injury of the anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL). Seventy persons with unilateral ACL injury participated (23 ± 2 years post-injury): 33 treated with physiotherapy in combination with surgical reconstruction ( ACLR), and 37 treated with physiotherapy alone ( ACLPT). These were compared with 33 age- and gender-matched controls. Assessment included knee-specific and general physical activity level [ Tegner activity scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire ( IPAQ)], knee function [ Lysholm score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score ( KOOS)], jump capacity (one-leg hop, vertical jump, side hops), and fear of movement/reinjury [ Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia ( TSK)]. Outcomes were related to degree of osteoarthritis ( OA). ACL-injured had lower Lysholm, KOOS, and Tegner scores than controls ( P < 0.001), while IPAQ score was similar. ACL-injured demonstrated inferior jump capacity in injured compared with noninjured leg (6-25%, P < 0.001- P = 0.010 in the different jumps), while noninjured leg had equal jump capacity as controls. ACL groups scored 33 ± 7 and 32 ± 7 of 68 on TSK. Lower scores on Lysholm and KOOS symptom were seen for persons with moderate-to-high OA than for no-or-low OA, while there were no differences for physical activity and jump capacity. Regardless of treatment, there are still negative knee-related effects of ACL injury more than 20 years later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]