Symmetry does not Indicate Recovery: Single-leg Hop Before and After a Lower Extremity Injury

Janet E Simon; Jae Yom; Dustin R Grooms

doi:10.1055/a-1244-9959

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(04): 344-349
DOI: 10.1055/a-1244-9959

Training & Testing

Symmetry does not Indicate Recovery: Single-leg Hop Before and After a Lower Extremity Injury

Janet E Simon

¹Division of Athletic Training, School of Applie 00d Health Sciences and Wellness, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens

²Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, Ohio University, Athens

,

Jae Yom

³Allied Health, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield

,

Dustin R Grooms

¹Division of Athletic Training, School of Applie 00d Health Sciences and Wellness, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens

²Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, Ohio University, Athens

⁴Division of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation and Communications Science, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Current recommendations for return-to-play decision-making involve comparison of the injured limb to the uninjured limb. However, the use of the uninjured limb as a comparison for hop testing lacks empirical evidence. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of lower extremity injury on limb symmetry and performance on the single-leg hop for distance. Two-hundred thirty-six adolescent athletes completed the single-leg hop for distance before the beginning of the season (pre-injury). Forty-four adolescent athletes sustained a lower extremity injury (22 ankle and 12 knee) and missed at least three days of sports participation. All individuals had completed the single-leg hop for distance before the beginning of the season (pre-injury) and at discharge (post-injury). Injured limb single-leg hop for distance significantly decreased at return-to-play from pre-injury with a mean decrease of 48.9 centimeters; the uninjured limb also significantly decreased, with a mean decrease of 33.8 centimeters. Limb symmetry did not significantly change pre- to post-injury with a mean difference of 1.5%. Following a lower extremity injury, single-leg hop for distance performance degrades not only for the injured limb but also the uninjured limb. However, limb symmetry did not change following a lower extremity injury.

Key words

return-to-play - functional testing - clinical outcomes

Full Text

References

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