Five-times sit-to-stand test following anterior cruciate ligament surgery: a cross-sectional reliability study

Malawi Med J. 2023 Sep;35(3):177-182. doi: 10.4314/mmj.v35i3.7.

Abstract

Aims: Patients who have had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) should periodically have their muscle strength assessed. The five-times sit-to-stand test (FTSST) can evaluate the muscle strength and balance of the lower extremities. This study's primary purpose was to assess the validity and reliability of the FTSST in patients who have undergone ACL-R.

Material and methods: Forty-three people who had undergone ACL-R surgery were included in the study. The study's primary outcome measure, the FTSST, was assessed by two different investigators. Secondary outcome measures were body balance, quadriceps muscle strength, Tegner activity score (TAS), and Lysholm score.

Results: The FTSST's test-retest and inter-rater reliability were both high (ICC: 0.99). The FTSST also showed a strong statistically significant correlation with all secondary outcome measures, including balance, quadriceps muscle strength, TAS, and Lysholm score (p<0.05).

Conclusions: According to the study results, the FTSST is a tool-free, simple method for assessing muscle strength and the body balance level, mobility level, and functional status of the knee in patients who have undergone ACL-R surgery.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Five-times sit-to-stand test; Reconstruction.

MeSH terms

  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament* / surgery
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Lower Extremity*
  • Quadriceps Muscle / transplantation
  • Reproducibility of Results