Sex differences in physical activity engagement after ACL reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of sex as an effect modifier of objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in individuals following ACLR and healthy controls.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional research study.

SETTING: University community.

PARTICIPANTS: 59 participants (42.4% male) with a history of ACLR and 55 healthy control participants (40.0% male).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were outfitted with an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer for a period of 7 days to assess MVPA. Weekly time engaged in MVPA (in bouts≥ 10 min), % of total time engaged in MVPA, and odds of meeting national physical activity guidelines (MVPA≥ 150 min/wk) were compared between males and females with a history of ACLR and healthy controls.

RESULTS: There were significant sex X group interactions for weekly MVPA (p = 0.02) and % total time in MVPA (p = 0.01). The odds of a female ACLR participant meeting national physical activity guidelines were significantly worse (X2  = 4.18, OR = 2.54, CI95  = 1.03-6.27) when compared to participants without ACLR.

CONCLUSIONS: Female participants with ACLR were found to be less active than healthy control participants and their odds of meeting national MVPA guidelines were also 2.54 times worse than healthy participants.