Movement Assessments as Predictors for Initial Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Critically Appraised Topic

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in athletes and lead to poor long-term outcomes.
• Identifying athletes at risk for initial ACL injury is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if movement assessments can predict initial ACL injuries in college and high school athletes.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of various movement assessments in identifying at-risk individuals.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of six articles was conducted.
• Studies included analyzed the predictive validity of different movement assessments for ACL injuries.

Main Results:

• Some movement assessments showed no predictive value for ACL injury.
• A Functional Movement Screen composite score of 14 or less and a Landing Error Scoring System score of 5 or greater were associated with increased ACL injury risk.
• Knee valgus angles ≥6.5 cm showed fair predictive validity for future knee injury.

Conclusions:

• While results are conflicting, certain movement assessments show promise in predicting ACL injuries.
• Clinicians may consider using the Functional Movement Screen and Landing Error Scoring System for screening at-risk athletes.
• Further research is needed to identify more precise movement assessment predictors for ACL injury.