Does fear of re-injury affect the self-perceived level of lower limb functionality among soccer players with ACL reconstruction?: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

The fear of re-injury may persist after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) in professional soccer players (PSPs) even after a successful return to sport (RTS). This study aimed to determine the extent of this fear of re-injury and the impact of demographic variables and this fear of re-injury on the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) scores in PSPs who had completed a successful RTS following ACLR. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Sixty-seven PSPs who had successfully RTS after ACLR, completed a demographic information sheet, the Athlete Fear-Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ), and the LEFS. The average AFAQ scores indicated low fear (M = 10.2, SD = 6.7), while high LEFS scores were observed (M = 67.1, SD = 12.4). There were significant strong negative correlations between LEFS and body mass index (BMI; rs [65] = −0.501, P = .001) and AFAQ and BMI (rs [65] = −0.378, P = .001). A hierarchical linear regression analysis found AFAQ to be a significant predictor of LEFS (b = −0.92, s.e. = 0.19, P = .001), with a total variance (adjusted R2) of 32.9%. PSPs’ fear of re-injury post-ACLR significantly reduced their perceived levels of lower limb functionality. This study highlights the need to further explore and develop strategies to manage PSP fear of re-injury to improve sports-related performance post-ACLR.

A Pilot Survey Study of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female University Athletes

“…Previous studies focusing on the fear of re-injury found decreased levels of lower limb functionality, and fear of injury has also been identified as a risk factor for a new acute knee injury [26,27]. With a larger sample size and, therefore, more statistical power, the effect of knee injury on risk perception could be explored alongside qualitative research to further understand this psychological aspect of soft tissue knee injuries.…”