Screening Tests for Assessing Athletes at Risk of ACL Injury or Reinjury—A Scoping Review

Noah Schweizer, Gerda Strutzenberger, Martino V. Franchi, Mazda Farshad, Johannes Scherr and Jörg Spörri
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Noah Schweizer: Sports Medical Research Group, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Gerda Strutzenberger: Sports Medical Research Group, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Martino V. Franchi: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Physiology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
Mazda Farshad: University Spine Centre, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Johannes Scherr: Sports Medical Research Group, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Jörg Spörri: Sports Medical Research Group, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-26

Abstract: Various tests are available to assess athletes for factors associated with their susceptibility and risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or reinjury; however, it is unclear which tests are clinically meaningful and what should be considered when using them. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to screen and summarize testing and to derive evidence-based recommendations for clinicians, practitioners and future research. Five databases were searched to identify studies addressing musculoskeletal morphology or functional-performance-related screening tests with a clear conceptual link or an evidence-based relationship to ACL (re)injury. A quality rating was carried out using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Study-Quality Assessment Tool. Six different categories of common screening tests were identified: balance and postural control, gait- and running-related tests, joint laxity, joint morphology and anthropometrics, jump tests and strength tests. Predicting future injury in a complex, dynamic system based on a single screening test is methodologically challenging, which is also reflected in the highly controversial findings in the literature regarding potential associations between specific screening tests and the occurrence of ACL injuries and reinjuries. Nonetheless, various screening tests can provide clinically relevant information on ACL-(re)injury-related factors and help to provide tailored preventive measures. A selection of corresponding evidence-based recommendations is derived and presented in this scoping review.

Keywords: injury prevention; knee injuries; ACL injury; physical fitness; biomechanics; risk factors; imaging; youth sport; collegiate sport; professional sport (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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