Using an accelerometer and the step-up-and-over test to evaluate the knee function of patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

- Leg symmetry is lower for ligament reconstruction patients than healthy controls.
- Leg symmetry is related to patient-reported knee function.
- Leg symmetry is not related to patient-reported fear of re-injury.
- The test results are different for some individual patients compared to the group.

BackgroundEvaluating the dynamic knee function of patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a challenge. A variety of objective tests have been developed but for various reasons few are regularly used in the clinic. It may be practical to perform the step-up-and-over test with an accelerometer.MethodsA control group (N = 26) and an experimental group with a reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (N = 25) completed questionnaires quantifying subjective knee function and fear of re-injury and then completed the step-up-and-over test.FindingsResults showed that the experimental group performed differently than the control group for the step-up-and-over test's Lift Symmetry and Impact Symmetry (P < 0.05) and performance on these measures was related to the participant's subjective knee function (ρ = − 0.46, P < 0.01; ρ = − 0.33, P < 0.05, respectively). Supplemental results for individual leg performance and the patient's fear of re-injury are also reported and discussed.InterpretationPerformance on the step-up-and-over test is different for participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction than for those with intact anterior cruciate ligaments, and that performance is related to one's opinion of their knee's function.