Hopping your way to better ACL reconstruction rehab

If you’ve ever had an ACL injury or know someone who has, you understand how crucial it is to get back to normal life and activities. But did you know that simple hop tests could be a game-changer in predicting your future outcomes?

Let’s break it down.

Why are hop tests important?

After an ACL injury, it’s essential to track your progress during rehabilitation. Hop tests, like the single-forward hop or repeated-forward hop, are super handy for this. They’re easy to do and give valuable insights into how well your knee is recovering. Plus, they help determine when it’s safe to return to sports or other activities you love.

What does the research say?

Researchers looked at over 13,000 people who had ACL injuries and did hop tests as part of their recovery. They wanted to see if there was a connection between how well people did on these tests and their future knee health. By analyzing the data from many studies, they could draw some big conclusions.

What did they find out?

Here’s the scoop:

• If you do well on hop tests, you’re more likely to get back to your pre-injury level of sport within three years after surgery.
• You’re also less likely to have ongoing knee problems like pain or stiffness, even up to 15 years later.
• Good performance on hop tests may even lower your chances of developing arthritis in your knee down the road.
• However, doing well on these tests doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t have another knee injury in the future or that you won’t need surgery.

What does this mean for you?

Hop tests can give you and your healthcare team a heads-up about how your knee might do in the long run. Even if you ace these tests, it’s essential to stay vigilant and continue with your rehab and follow-up care.

So, next time your physiotherapist asks you to hop on one leg, remember it’s not just about balancing — it’s about setting you up for a healthier, happier future with your knees.

If you want to dive deeper into the study, you can find the full reference here:

• West TJ, Bruder AM, Crossley KM, et al. “Unilateral tests of lower-limb function as prognostic indicators of future knee-related outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105736

Keep hopping forward on your recovery journey!

Michael Pierce

Sports Physiotherapist, Lake Health Group

from BJSM and La Trobe Uni Sports and Exercise Medicine Research Centre