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Poget F1,2, Descloux F3, Blackburn T4
1University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO), School of Health Sciences (HESAV), Lausanne, Switzerland, 2University Hospital of Lausanne, Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland, 3Physio Grancy, Private Practice, Lausanne, Switzerland, 4University of Brighton, School of Health Sciences, Eastbourne, United Kingdom
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has a high incidence and results in significant costs for healthcare. Despite reported successful impairment-based outcomes, such as knee range of motion, strength and stability, only half of patients are able to return to their preinjury level of sport participation. While suboptimal physical outcomes may partially explain these less than satisfactory results, there is growing evidence that psychosocial and contextual factors contribute to patients achieving their preinjury level of activity. Motivation, adherence to rehabilitation, social support, fear of re-injury and self-efficacy seem to be essential to attain successful recovery following ACLR. Group therapy has been suggested to provide physical and psychosocial benefits to individuals affected by other pathologies such as osteoarthritis and peripheral neuropathy. This project explores how patients perceive participating in the group exercise after ACLR.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the patients' perceptions and experiences of participating in a weekly exercise group following ACLR and to investigate the impact on their rehabilitation. The research was carried out as a Master degree's dissertation and as part of the service development of the clinic where the ACLR group took place.
Methods: Hermeneutic phenomenology was used to explore the experience of nine participants of a minimum of 4 sessions of the exercise group, recruited from an outpatient setting. Two focus groups, following a semi-structured interview. Data was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Three males and six females aged 21 to 57 years old (median: 30) participated in the study.
Three major themes emerged from the data: psychosocial factors, subjective physical outcomes and identity of the ACLR group. The group influenced the participants' motivation, enjoyment and commitment to exercise during their rehabilitation. Social support and reassurance were mostly gained. The participants taking part in sport experienced the ACLR group as a substitute for sport trainings. The group was perceived to help enhance speed of recovery and facilitate the return to normal life, especially for participants with lower reported motivation and adherence to home-exercises. We interpreted that the subjective physical outcomes' improvements described by all the participants was potentially an increased level of self-efficacy.
The need for more information and knowledge about an exercise group was highlighted for all stakeholders in order to promote group therapy in the Swiss healthcare context.
Conclusion(s): Participating in an exercise group therapy influences psychosocial factors such as motivation, self-confidence, social support and self-efficacy following ACLR. Participants with a lower reported adherence to home-exercises especially reported benefits from group sessions.
Implications: The exercise group can help patients to overcome psychosocial difficulties related to motivation and adherence during their rehabilitation. More information should be provided to all stakeholders to integrate group exercises for rehabilitation following ACLR.
Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), exercise group therapy, psychological factors
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was involved in this study.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the patients' perceptions and experiences of participating in a weekly exercise group following ACLR and to investigate the impact on their rehabilitation. The research was carried out as a Master degree's dissertation and as part of the service development of the clinic where the ACLR group took place.
Methods: Hermeneutic phenomenology was used to explore the experience of nine participants of a minimum of 4 sessions of the exercise group, recruited from an outpatient setting. Two focus groups, following a semi-structured interview. Data was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Three males and six females aged 21 to 57 years old (median: 30) participated in the study.
Three major themes emerged from the data: psychosocial factors, subjective physical outcomes and identity of the ACLR group. The group influenced the participants' motivation, enjoyment and commitment to exercise during their rehabilitation. Social support and reassurance were mostly gained. The participants taking part in sport experienced the ACLR group as a substitute for sport trainings. The group was perceived to help enhance speed of recovery and facilitate the return to normal life, especially for participants with lower reported motivation and adherence to home-exercises. We interpreted that the subjective physical outcomes' improvements described by all the participants was potentially an increased level of self-efficacy.
The need for more information and knowledge about an exercise group was highlighted for all stakeholders in order to promote group therapy in the Swiss healthcare context.
Conclusion(s): Participating in an exercise group therapy influences psychosocial factors such as motivation, self-confidence, social support and self-efficacy following ACLR. Participants with a lower reported adherence to home-exercises especially reported benefits from group sessions.
Implications: The exercise group can help patients to overcome psychosocial difficulties related to motivation and adherence during their rehabilitation. More information should be provided to all stakeholders to integrate group exercises for rehabilitation following ACLR.
Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), exercise group therapy, psychological factors
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was involved in this study.
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Orthopaedics
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: the University of Brighton
Ethics committee: BSMS Research Governance and Ethics Committee (RGEC)
Ethics number: NHE-17CA04-0043
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
