The Effects of Cognitive Dual-Tasking in Later Stages of Rehabilitation After ACL Reconstruction
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Cognitive dual task training (intervention group), Standard of care physiotherapy (control group).
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Athrogenic Muscle Responses, ACL Injury. Basic parameters: 18 years — 40 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Belgium
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in sports and often require a long and challenging rehabilitation process. Athletes who sustain these injuries typically engage in pivoting and cutting sports, where these motor tasks must be performed simultaneously with cognitive tasks such as decision-making and keeping an eye on the opponent. Directing attention to both cognitive and motor tasks leads to cognitive-motor interference, which is associated with movement patterns that increase the risk of ACL (re)injury. Therefore, it is crucial that before returning to such demanding sports after ACL reconstruction, athletes sufficiently develop and automate safe yet efficient motor skills to free up attentional capacity for decision-making, thereby reducing the risk of suboptimal movement patterns and reinjury. However, current rehabilitation programs often primarily focus on the motor component in a single-task manner, giving insufficient attention to the cognitive component that is inseparable from sports. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of implementing motor-cognitive dual tasks in the end phase rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction on muscle function, functional outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes.
Interventions
- Other Cognitive dual task training (intervention group)
Simultaneously performing cognitive tasks and motor rehabilitative exercises. - Other Standard of care physiotherapy (control group)
The current best physical therapy treatment for patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction based on existing scientific evidence.
Primary outcome measures
- Psychological readiness to return to sport [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
- Quadriceps and hamstrings activity / cocontraction during hop tasks [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
- Patient reported knee function [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
- Jumping height in hop tests [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
- Activity level [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
- Voluntary quadriceps activation [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Quadriceps and hamstrings strength [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
- Kinesiophobia [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
- Subjective knee stability [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
- The amount of pain that the subjects experience. [Time frame: 5 months post ACL reconstruction (= prior to intervention); 7 months post ACL reconstruction (= after the intervention); 9 months post ACL reconstruction (= after a 2 month retention period)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- 18-40 years old.
- Having suffered an ACL rupture.
- Undergoing a surgical ACL reconstruction in the AZ Delta hospital in Roeselare (Campus Brugsesteenweg).
Exclusion criteria
- Revision ACL reconstruction.
- Other severe injuries to the lower limbs within the past year.
- Muscle or neurological disorders affecting lower limb functioning.
- Fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Belgium · 1 center
- AZ Delta Roeselare (Campus Brugsesteenweg) — Roeselare
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06206200 · ONZ-2023-0365