Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section for Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Umeå School of Sport Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, 90187, Sweden.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Mar 26;23(1):290. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05252-6.
Individuals describe both short and long term consequences after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Functional impairments are well documented while psychological, social and contextual factors need to be further investigated. By the use of a qualitative method incorporating a biopsychosocial lens, we aimed to explore individuals' experiences of living and coping with an ACL rupture with a specific focus on experiences significant to overall life, activity in daily living and physical activity more than one year after injury.
Twelve participants were chosen strategically by a purposive sampling. Four men and eight women (19-41 years) with an ACL rupture 2-25 years ago, were included. Semi-structured interviews were used and analysed with qualitative content analysis.
The results consisted of one overarching theme: 'A strenuous process towards regaining balance' which built on three categories 'Disrupted knee', 'Disrupted me' and 'Moving forward with new insights'. The overarching theme captures the participants' experiences of a strenuous process towards regaining both physical and mental balance in the aftermath of an ACL injury. The results illuminate how participants were forced to cope with a physically 'disrupted knee', as well as facing mental challenges, identity challenges and a 'disrupted me'. By gradual acceptance and re-orientation they were moving forward with new insights - although still struggling with the consequences of the injury.
Individuals with an ACL injury experience both physical, psychological, and social challenges several years after injury. In addition to the functional impairments, diverse psychological, social and contextual 'disruptions' and struggles may also be present and influence the rehabilitation process. It is important that physiotherapists identify individuals who face such challenges and individually tailor the rehabilitation and support. A biopsychosocial approach is recommended in the clinical practice and future studies focusing on psychosocial processes in the context of ACL rehabilitation are warranted.
个体在 ACL 损伤后会描述短期和长期的后果。功能障碍已得到充分记录，而心理、社会和环境因素仍需进一步研究。通过使用包含生物心理社会视角的定性方法，我们旨在探讨个体在 ACL 断裂后的生活和应对方式，重点关注对整体生活、日常生活活动和受伤后一年以上的身体活动有重要意义的体验。
通过目的性抽样选择了 12 名参与者。包括 4 名男性和 8 名女性（19-41 岁），ACL 断裂 2-25 年前。使用半结构化访谈，并采用定性内容分析进行分析。
结果包括一个总体主题：“恢复平衡的艰难过程”，该主题建立在三个类别之上：“膝关节受损”、“我自己受损”和“带着新的见解前进”。该主题描述了参与者在 ACL 损伤后恢复身体和心理平衡的艰难过程。研究结果阐明了参与者如何被迫应对膝关节的物理损伤，以及面临的心理挑战、身份挑战和“我自己受损”。通过逐渐接受和重新定位，他们带着新的见解前进——尽管仍在与受伤的后果作斗争。
ACL 损伤后数年，个体仍会经历身体、心理和社会挑战。除了功能障碍外，还可能存在各种心理、社会和环境的“破坏”和挣扎，这可能会影响康复过程。理疗师识别出面临这些挑战的个体并为其量身定制康复和支持非常重要。建议在临床实践中采用生物心理社会方法，未来研究也有必要关注 ACL 康复背景下的心理社会过程。
