Lower-Extremity Visuomotor Reaction Time Is Not Different Between Males and Females Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract

Visuomotor reaction time (VMRT) is predictive of lower-extremity musculoskeletal injury and may be a modifiable anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk factor that affects the incidence of primary and secondary ACL injuries in females. However, it is unknown if females with ACL reconstruction (ACLR) experience diminished VMRT compared with their male counterparts. The purpose of this study was to compare lower-extremity VMRT (LEVMRT) between males and females with ACLR. Female (n = 40) and male (n = 20) participants who were between 4 and 12 months after primary, unilateral ACLR completed a LEVMRT task with each limb using a series of wireless light discs. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare between-group differences for LEVMRT (in milliseconds). No statistically significant sex differences were observed for LEVMRT when the ACLR limb deactivated the light discs (females = 509.5 [132.5], males = 507.0 [79.8]; p = .77) or when the ACLR limb was stabilizing while the nonsurgical limb deactivated the light discs (females = 528.5 [105.3], males = 546.0 [92.5]; p = .77). Both males and females may benefit from visual motor training to improve VMRT after ACLR.