Think outside the box
Incorporating secondary cognitive tasks into return to sport testing after ACL reconstruction
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5285812 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Courtney R Chaaban (0000-0003-2175-8403, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Jeffrey A Turner (0000-0003-3908-2667, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Darin A Padua (0000-0002-9383-4236, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 4 |
| Pages | 1089882-1089882 |
| Publication date | 2023-02-15 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2624-9367 • E-ISSN: 2624-9367 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fspor.2022.1089882 |
| PMID | 36873910 |
| OpenAlex | W4320919912 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 92 |
The optimal set of return to sport (RTS) tests after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) remains elusive. Many athletes fail to pass current RTS test batteries, fail to RTS, or sustain secondary ACL injuries if they do RTS. The purpose of this review is to summarize current literature regarding functional RTS testing after ACLR and to encourage clinicians to have patients "think" (add a secondary cognitive task) outside the "box" (in reference to the box used during the drop vertical jump task) when performing functional RTS tests. We review important criteria for functional tests in RTS testing, including task-specificity and measurability. Firstly, tests should replicate the sport-specific demands the athlete will encounter when they RTS. Many ACL injuries occur when the athlete is performing a dual cognitive-motor task (e.g., attending to an opponent while performing a cutting maneuver). However, most functional RTS tests do not incorporate a secondary cognitive load. Secondly, tests should be measurable, both through the athlete's ability to complete the task safely (through biomechanical analyses) and efficiently (through measures of performance). We highlight and critically examine three examples of functional tests that are commonly used for RTS testing: the drop vertical jump, single-leg hop tests, and cutting tasks. We discuss how biomechanics and performance can be measured during these tasks, including the relationship these variables may have with injury. We then discuss how cognitive demands can be added to these tasks, and how these demands influence both biomechanics and performance. Lastly, we provide clinicians with practical recommendations on how to implement secondary cognitive tasks into functional testing and how to assess athletes' biomechanics and performance
ACL injury · Anterior cruciate ligament · Athletes · Biomechanics · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Cognitive test · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Physical therapy · Computer Science · Engineering · Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques · Medicine · Psychology · Sports injuries and prevention · Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes
Cognitive costs in motor-cognitive performance assessments depend on movement complexity and cognitive task design
Side-hop test can detect deficits in knee functional ability in male athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared to a control group during a battery test performance
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |