Effect of personality traits on rehabilitation effect after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: An observational study

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction requires an extended period of postoperative rehabilitation. Psychological factors can affect recovery after surgery. Study of psychological factors is still limited to self-motivation, fear and pain. Study of personality traits associated with early rehabilitation outcome after ACL reconstruction is scarce.

We aimed to explore the effect of personality traits on early rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction and provide a reference for clinicians in designing a personalized rehabilitation plan.

This prospective analysis investigated 155 patients at 3 and 6 months after ACL reconstruction. Follow-up involved administration of a general data questionnaire, the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, the Tegner activity score, the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Score, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, the Lysholm Score and a balance test.

Among the 155 patients included (124 males), Neuroticism was negatively correlated with subjective knee scores at 3 and 6 months after surgery (p<0.001). The odds of a poor balance test result was increased for each 1-point increase in Neuroticism score (odds ratio [OR] 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-2.36, p<0.001). We found a positive correlation between Conscientiousness score and subjective knee scores at 3 and 6 months after surgery (p<0.001). For every 1-point increase in Conscientiousness score, the odds of a poor balance test result were decreased (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16-0.54, p<0.001). Agreeableness and Openness to experience scores were positively correlated with subjective knee scores at 3 and 6 months after surgery (p<0.001). We found no correlation between Extraversion and subjective knee scores at 3 and 6 months after surgery (p>0.05) but a positive correlation with the Tegner activity score at 3 and 6 months after surgery (p<0.05).

We found a significant correlation between the Big Five personality dimensions and the early rehabilitation effect after ACL reconstruction, which can provide a reference for clinicians in designing a personalized rehabilitation plan.