Deficits in Dynamic Balance and Hop Performance Following ACL Reconstruction Are Not Dependent on Meniscal Injury History

BackgroundAthletes often exhibit persistent deficits in dynamic balance and hop performance in their involved limb following ACL reconstruction. However, it is unclear how meniscal injury history affects inter-limb asymmetry.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare inter-limb asymmetry in dynamic balance and hop performance in athletes with and without a history of concomitant meniscal injury.Study DesignCross-sectional studyMethodsDynamic balance and hop test data were analyzed for 34 adolescent athletes who had undergone ACL reconstruction; 19 athletes had sustained an isolated ACL tear, while 15 had sustained an ACL tear along with a meniscus injury. Athletes who had sustained a meniscus injury were sub-divided into those who underwent a meniscal repair (n = 9) versus a partial meniscectomy (n = 6). Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-Balance Test, while hop performance was assessed using the single and triple hop tests. Data were recorded at the time of return-to-sport testing (5-11 months post-surgery). For each variable, mixed-model analysis of variance, with a between-subjects factor of group (isolated ACL tear, meniscal repair, partial meniscectomy) and a within-subjects factor of limb (involved, uninvolved), was conducted.Results The groups exhibited similar degrees of inter-limb asymmetry in dynamic balance and hop test performance, as there was not a group-by-limb interaction effect for the Y-Balance Test distances (p >. 0.43) or hop test distances (p >. 0.96). However, there was a main effect of limb for the anterior and posteromedial Y-Balance Test distances and the single and triple hop test distances (p <= 0.004). For each variable, performance was worse for the involved limb, compared to the uninvolved limb. ConclusionIt appears that deficits in dynamic balance and hop performance among adolescent athletes who have undergone ACL reconstruction are not dependent on meniscal injury/ surgery history.