The Sparta Science force plate is reliable in assessment of recovery following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract

Introduction

The Sparta Science force plate provides kinetic information derived from movements such as vertical jump and balance tests. It has primarily been utilized to assess fitness amongst athletic and military populations. The outputs from this system may be useful in the assessment of return to sport (RTS) readiness following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of the Sparta Science metrics in ACL reconstruction patients and to compare these results with the healthy population data provided by the Sparta system.

Methods

Primary ACL reconstruction patients were recruited to undergo testing at 9 months postoperatively, excluding those with a history of ipsilateral or contralateral knee injury, or concomitant multiligament knee injury requiring surgery. Testing included knee laxity assessment, hop tests, isokinetic strength testing using a dynamometer, and then kinetic measures using the Sparta force plate. The force plate assessed double- and single-leg vertical jump and balance tasks, with each test performed twice after a 5-min rest. Metrics analyzed were jump height and Sparta-derived jump profiles and balance scores. Sparta-derived t-scores were used to compare against the population average for each test. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to determine relative reliability.

Results

There were 74 patients, 44 (60%) males, mean age 25(±9) years, with mean pre-injury Marx scale 13.1(±3.4). The Sparta Science metrics showed moderate to excellent reliability for double-leg (ICC: 0.75-0.97) and single-leg vertical jump (ICC: 0.81-0.95), as well as balance assessments (ICC: 0.71-0.81). Patients scored lower than the healthy population norms for vertical jump tests but greater for balance tests. The jump test scores were significantly correlated with hop tests and quadriceps and hamstring strength.

Conclusion

The Sparta Science force plate is reliable when assessing patients after ACL reconstruction with ICCs showing moderate to excellent reliability. We identified kinetic deficiencies in vertical jump test performance and the results correlate with other return to sport testing methods. This demonstrates the Sparta system’s potential as a reliable option to augment traditional testing methods.

Level of Evidence

III.