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The SpeedCourt system in rehabilitation after reconstruction surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

This study aimed at evaluating and finding the advantages of a program with unexpected disturbances (reaction time beyond 200 ms) in the late rehabilitation (5 months) after ACL-surgery compared to current sensomotoric based concepts.

Materials and methods

50 athletic patients (14 females, 36 males, age: 32.7 ± 10.0 years) were randomized and followed either a new training with the SpeedCourt (28 athletes) or underwent a regular stabilization program (22 athletes). Subjects were assessed at baseline and after 3 weeks, i.e. six sessions in total. The comparison of evaluations (pre- and post-training) was calculated with a two-factorial (time, group) univariate analysis with parameters for flexibility, reaction time, tapping, jump force (uni- and bi-lateral) and anthropometry.

Results

In between the two groups 5 out of 22 parameters (23 %) showed significant influences, i.e. highest in the lower leg dimensions 15 cm below joint-line of the operated knee joint (η 2 = 0.122), non-operated knee joint (η 2 = 0.200) and the lower leg dimensions 10 cm below joint-line of the non-operated knee joint (η 2 = 0.183). Jump height unilateral and reaction time on the surgically treated leg were also different and improved (η 2 = 0.148; η 2 = 0.138) significantly. Differences in the outcome parameters like tapping, jump height and ground reaction time between the operated and non-operated knee were remarkably reduced in the SpeedCourt intervention group.

Conclusions

Interventional training programs with the SpeedCourt system seem to be advantageous in the late rehabilitation following ACL-knee surgery compared to current sensomotoric based concepts. We achieved improvements of anthropometric and functional parameters. Further studies with larger groups and longer periods of evaluation are necessary to support these data and to possibly establish a new innovative rehabilitation concept. Clinically, the demonstrated SpeedCourt system might help to determine the time “back/return to sports” for athletes more objectively and prospectively reduce the rate of ACL re-injuries.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all the patients, who participated after surgery of their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and made this study possible. All participants provided written consent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SportsClinic Halle, Center of Joint Surgery, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Thomas Bartels, Stefan Proeger, Kay Brehme & Martin Pyschik

  2. Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Karl-Stefan Delank, Stephan Schulze & René Schwesig

  3. Division for Shoulder Surgery and Sports Medicine, Helios Clinic Warburg, Hueffertstrasse 50, 34414, Warburg, Germany

    Georg Fieseler

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  1. Thomas Bartels
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  2. Stefan Proeger
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  3. Kay Brehme
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Correspondence to Georg Fieseler.

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The study has been performed without any source of support in the form of grants, financial donations or other items.

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The authors, their immediate families, and any research foundations with which they are affiliated did not receive any financial payments or other benefits from any commercial entity related to the subject of this article.

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Bartels, T., Proeger, S., Brehme, K. et al. The SpeedCourt system in rehabilitation after reconstruction surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 136, 957–966 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-016-2462-4

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