Feasibility, Reliability, and Validity of the Modified Forward Hop Test After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: DoubleInstead of Single-legged Landing is Reliable and Results in Greater Hopping Distance

Objective: To investigate the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Modified forward hop (MFH) test in participants after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Design: Reliability study. Setting: Assessments were administered at different clinical locations in Germany and Switzerland by the same 2 investigators. Participants: Forty-eight active individuals participated in this study (N=48). Main Outcome Measures: The participants performed MFHs and Forward hops for distance in a predetermined order. The feasibility of the MFH was quantified with proportions of successfully executed attempts and Pearson's x 2 test. Its reliability was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM). Test validity was explored using Pearson's product moment correlation analyses. Results: Fewer failed attempts were recorded among the participants (age: 30 [Standard deviation 11] years; 22 women, 26 (13) months post -surgery) when compared with the Forward hop for distance test (25/288 trials; 9% vs 72/288 trials; 25%). Within -session ICC values were excellent ( >0.95) for both types of Forward hop tests, independent of the side examined. The SEM values were comparable between the Modified (injured: 5.6 cm, uninjured: 5.9 cm) and the classic Forward hop (injured: 4.3 cm, uninjured: 7.2 cm). Conclusion: The MFH is a feasible, reliable, and valid tool for judging neuromuscular performance after ACLR. If the aim of a hop for distance incorporates enhanced perceived or real landing safety, landing on both feet should be used. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2024;105:710 -6 (c) 2023 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)