Sex differences in physical activity engagement after ACL reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a common surgical procedure.
• Sex may influence recovery and physical activity levels after ACLR.
• Objective measurement of physical activity is crucial for understanding post-surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of sex as a modifier of objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
• To compare MVPA levels between individuals with ACLR and healthy controls, considering sex differences.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 59 ACLR participants and 55 healthy controls.
• Objective assessment of MVPA using accelerometers (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT) over 7 days.
• Comparison of weekly MVPA, percentage of total time in MVPA, and odds of meeting national physical activity guidelines between sexes and groups.

Main Results:

• Significant sex-by-group interactions were observed for weekly MVPA (p=0.02) and % total time in MVPA (p=0.01).
• Female participants with ACLR showed significantly worse odds (OR=2.54) of meeting national physical activity guidelines compared to healthy females.

Conclusions:

• Female individuals with ACLR are less physically active than their healthy counterparts.
• Women undergoing ACLR have a 2.54 times higher likelihood of not meeting physical activity guidelines.
• Sex is an important effect modifier for physical activity levels following ACLR.