OPTIMIZATION OF ACL INJURY PREVENTION: A STUDY OF MOTIVATION AND SELF-EFFICACY

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Mary Warren (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal injuries in sport and physical activity. Approximately 175,000 ACL injuries are reported each year in the United States, imposing a significant burden on both the individuals who incur them and society at large (Robey, 2014). It is estimated that ACL injuries are responsible for a cost of over $2 billion annually in the U.S. (Bogardus, 2013\; Robey, 2014\; Sugimoto et al., 2012\; Sugimoto, Myer, Micheli, & Hewett, 2015). Additionally, these injuries result in short and long-term health consequences. In the short-term, individuals often experience decreased psychological well-being, a reduction in physical activity, and disruptions in daily and career-related undertakings (Chan, Derwin King Chung, Lee, Hagger, Mok, & Yung, 2017\; Cupal, 1998). Furthermore, treatment often includes ACL reconstruction and many months of rehabilitation, making it both costly and time-consuming (Cupal, 1998\; Yoo et al., 2010). The long-term complications of ACL injury include an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis and reinjury, which are prevalent even after ACL surgical reconstruction or therapy aimed at rehabilitation (Kiefer et al., 2015\; Sugimoto et al., 2015\; Yoo et al., 2010).\n The high incidence and severity of anterior cruciate ligament injury have made it a popular topic for injury prevention research. This research has been effective in determining the mechanisms leading to ACL injury and, subsequently, the development of ACL injury prevention programs to alter these mechanisms. These programs have demonstrated the ability to substantially reduce ACL injury risk. However, the overall incidence of ACL injury remains high and continues to rise. One possible explanation for this occurrence is that preventive measures are not widely adopted by the target population or implemented in their routine. Another explanation could be sub-optimal adherence to the program protocol. \nThe current literature recognizes that lack of adherence is a significant barrier to achieving optimal long-term outcomes. However, there is a void in the research studying how to optimize adherence in an injury prevention program. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of behavioral processes on an ACL injury prevention program. We hypothesize that participants who are autonomously motivated will demonstrate greater self-efficacy for program adherence, defined as the extent to which one feels they can adhere to the training protocol. This study is necessary to research how motivation influences adherence in an ACL injury prevention training program. This information would be beneficial to physical therapists, coaches, and athletic trainers as they try to improve participant adherence in injury prevention programs.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2023

Subjects

Self-efficacy;motivation;SDT;injury prevention

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