Is pre-operative quadriceps activation related to post-operative activation , not strength , in patients post-ACL reconstruction?
Individuals with better pre-operative quadriceps activation demonstrated greater post-operative activation. Similarly, individuals with better pre-operative strength demonstrated better post-operative strength. Pre-operative quadriceps activation was not a predictor of post-operative strength. From a clinical perspective, our work indicates that clinicians should utilize therapies targeting both quadriceps activation and strength prior to ACL reconstruction in order to maximize these factors post-ACL reconstruction, as pre-operative activation and strength are related to post-operative activation and strength, respectively at return-to-activity.
Given the known limits of short-term memory, clinicians would be well advised to carefully consider their patterns of information-giving and their use of memory-reinforcing strategies for critical information.