Optimizing Plyometric Training for Functional Recovery Post-ACL Reconstruction

NCT ID: NCT02148172

Last Updated: 2019-04-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 47 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2014-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2018-12-31

Brief Summary

While surgical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) of the knee restores passive stability, studies are showing consistently poor long-term outcomes. Unusually high risks of early-onset osteoarthritis and re-injury, and low rate of return to sport following ACLR all seem to be related to a chronic tendency to land stiff-legged from a jump or hop, which itself may be due to fear of re-injury. Decreased knee bending for force absorption simultaneously decreases performance level and increases risk for injury and arthritic changes.

The purpose of the proposed study is to compare a current best-practice plyometric training program to one utilizing body weight support to increase repetition and improve performance in the initial phases. The investigators hypothesize that we will see larger improvements in absorptive capacity of the knee and better confidence in activity immediately following body weight support training, as well as improved retention of training effects after a two-month period.

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury; Knee Injury

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Standard Plyometric Training

Participants will undergo treatment 2 times a week for 8 weeks with plyometric exercises deemed to be consistent with best practice delivered at a standard dosage of sets and repetitions.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Plyometric Training

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Participants will undergo individualized practice exercises of jumping, hopping, and cutting tasks consistent with standard published exercises.

Plyometric Training with BWS

Participants will undergo treatment 2 times a week for 8 weeks with plyometric exercises deemed to be consistent with best practice with a treatment volume of sets and repetitions that exceeds standard practice. Higher number of practice trials will be completed with body weight support (BWS) to reduce load. Participants will start at 30 percent of body weight and will be slowly weaned away over time.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Plyometric Training with BWS

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Participants will undergo individualized practice exercises of jumping, hopping, and cutting tasks consistent with standard published exercises while their body weight is supported via adjustable harness.

Interventions

Standard Plyometric Training

Participants will undergo individualized practice exercises of jumping, hopping, and cutting tasks consistent with standard published exercises.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Plyometric Training with BWS

Participants will undergo individualized practice exercises of jumping, hopping, and cutting tasks consistent with standard published exercises while their body weight is supported via adjustable harness.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• speak and understand English
• age between 12-35 years
• unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between 6-48 months prior
• activity level greater than or equal to level 5 on the Tegner Activity Scale

Exclusion Criteria

• Weight in excess of 300 pounds (136 kg)
• contralateral/bilateral ACL reconstruction or an unreconstructed ACL injury
• history of a posterior cruciate ligament injury
• lower extremity of back injury or other condition (e.g. cerebral palsy) that has limited their normal activities of daily living within the last 6 months

• Minimum Eligible Age: 12 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: collaborator

American Physical Therapy Association

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Montana

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ryan Mizner

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Ryan L Mizner, PT, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Montana

Locations

University of Montana, Movement Science Laboratory

Missoula, Montana, United States

Countries

United States

References

Elias ARC, Harris KJ, LaStayo PC, Mizner RL. Clinical Efficacy of Jump Training Augmented With Body Weight Support After ACL Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2018 Jun;46(7):1650-1660. doi: 10.1177/0363546518759052. Epub 2018 Mar 20.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29558161 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

UM IRB 282-13

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id