Modifiable factors and their association with self-reported knee function and activity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Perceptions, expectations and experiences of recovery before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: the patient voice - a protocol for a qualitative systematic review with meta-aggregation

INTRODUCTION

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a common yet significant musculoskeletal problem and are increasingly prevalent outside of elite athlete populations. As a result, individuals may undergo ACL reconstruction (ACLR), but long-term complications frequently persist. Individuals commonly believe that post-ACLR, they will eventually return to preinjury levels of function. However, for multiple reasons, the reality is that more than half fail to reach this preinjury level. Rehabilitation has traditionally focused on physical factors, which have been researched extensively. More recently, psychological factors affecting recovery have been examined. However, most literature focuses on 'outcome', with the patient voice, in terms of their views and perceptions of ACLR neglected. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to understand individuals' perceptions, expectations and experiences pre-ACLR and post-ACLR and to understand key factors influencing this journey. Such knowledge would assist in maximising the chances of successful recovery.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This meta-aggregative systematic review protocol is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and SportDiscus databases, grey literature and key journals will be searched from inception. Qualitative research of any study design that includes individuals aged 16+ years who are awaiting or have undergone ACL reconstruction will be included. Studies focusing on ACL revision, ACL repair or multiligament reconstruction surgeries will be excluded. Two independent reviewers will conduct searches, determine study eligibility, extract data, assess methodological quality (Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for qualitative research) and rate the overall confidence in findings (JBI ConQual).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, as well as presented at conferences and locally to physiotherapy teams. Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42024594621.

Trials and tribulations of transparency related to inconsistencies between plan and conduct in peer-reviewed physiotherapy publications: A methodology review

RATIONALE

The physiotherapy profession strives to be a leader in providing quality care and strongly recognizes the value of research to guide clinical practice. Adherence to guidelines for research reporting and conduct is a significant step towards high-quality, transparent and reproducible research.

AIM/OBJECTIVE

Assess integrity between planned and conducted methodology in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs) published in physiotherapy journals.

METHODS

Eighteen journals were manually searched for RCTs and SRs published from 1 July 2021 through 31 December 2021. Studies were included if the journal or specific study was indexed in PubMed and published/translated in English. Descriptive statistics determined congruence between preregistration data and publication.

RESULTS

Forty RCTs and 68 SRs were assessed. Forty-three SRs included meta-analysis (MA). Of the 34 registered RCTs, 7 (20.6%) had no discrepancy between the registration and publication. Two trials (5.9%) addressed all discrepancies, 4 (11.8%) addressed some and 21 (61.8%) did not address any discrepancies. Of the 36 registered MAs, 33 (91.7%) had discrepancies between the registration and publication. Two (5.6%) addressed all discrepancies and three (8.3%) had no discrepancies. Eight SRs without MA published information not matching their registration, and none provided justification for the discrepancies.

CONCLUSION

Most RCTs/SRs were registered; the majority had discrepancies between preregistration and publication, potentially influencing the outcomes and interpretations of findings. Journals should require preregistration and compare the submission with the registration information when assessing publication suitability. Readers should be aware of these inconsistencies and their implications when interpreting and translating results into practice.

The influence of body mass index on physical activity engagement following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic literature review

Background

The objective of this study was to summarize available literature that explored the impact of body mass index (BMI) on physical activity participation among individuals who were subjected to the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Methods

A total of three electronic databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, were comprehensively searched to identify relevant investigations. The following inclusion criteria were applied: (1) study design was observational; (2) participants underwent the ACLR; (3) BMI was estimated as a predictor variable; and (4) outcomes evaluated referred to physical activity. The risk of bias was assessed with the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies.

Results

After a database search, 787 studies were found, and only 10 of them met each of the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. Regarding respondents' characteristics, 7171 individuals underwent ACLR, 4080 males and 3091 females, with a mean age of 25.5 years. Most importantly, the average BMI of the examined population was 24.9 kg/m2. In all studies, physical activity was evaluated subjectively using the Tegner activity scale and the Marx activity scale. The main findings unambiguously demonstrated that a negative relationship between BMI and physical activity engagement was observed. More specifically, there is convincing evidence that BMI over 25 kg/m2 harmfully affected subjectively assessed physical activity in individuals with a history of ACLR.

Conclusion

The results obtained in the presented research indicated that increased values of BMI were a factor that correlated with reduced physical activity levels in the ACLR population. Hence, taking into account the clinical and health implications of reduced physical activity participation, stimulation of a healthy lifestyle, such as a combination of adequately designed physical exercise and nutrition, seems necessary for the analyzed population.