Dynamic Stability Assessment for Monitoring Recovery from ACL Reconstruction a Handball Case Study

Efficient postural balance/stability reduces the risk of injuries and contributes to motor performance in many sports disciplines. Handball is one of the most challenging sports for the knee joint. Continuous demands in strength and jumping alterations in movements are observed among athletes who have suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. In handball, as a typical “contact” team sport, these demands are enhanced with tactical and technical elements that make it more challenging in terms of dynamic stability. The scientific literature provides scarce information regarding the best clinical practices for rehabilitation programs or standardized functional and clinical evaluation criteria for resuming the sport after injury, different jumping performance tests have been widely employed to determine the readiness for sports participation after ACL reconstruction. For this study, a descriptive case study was performed. This single case study involving a male elite handball player presents an example of how OptoJump Next Drift Protocol can be beneficial in monitoring the recovery process after ACL reconstruction. After the two ACL reconstructions, two Drift Protocol tests were conducted and a comparison between the two tests during the rehabilitation process indicates improvement in multiple measures. After the first test, according to the results, adjustments were made in order to balance the performance of both legs. At follow-up, 2 years after the second ACL reconstruction, the subject did not suffer any serious injuries in the meantime and had been pain-free since completing the rehabilitation program while continuing to participate in toplevel handball.