Ankle injuries are a common occurrence in the world of sports, accounting for 15% to 25% of all sports-related injuries. These injuries can result in significant pain and loss of function, often requiring surgical intervention. The recovery process after such an injury is not only physical but also psychological. Athletes must feel mentally ready to return to their sport, which can be a complex and individual process. This article discusses a recent cross-sectional study that aimed to validate a tool for assessing this psychological readiness in patients who have undergone ankle fracture surgery.
The tool in question is the Ankle Ligament Reconstruction-Return to Sports after Injury (ALR-RSI) score. This scale was designed to help surgeons quantify the psychological readiness of their patients to return to sport (RTS) after an ankle injury. The study aimed to validate this tool in an active population who had undergone ankle fracture surgery.
The study was conducted over a one-year period, from January 2020 to January 2021. The participants were athletic patients who had undergone ankle fracture fixation during this period. These patients were asked to fill out the ALR-RSI, as well as two Patient-Related Outcome Measurement (PROM) tools: the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS) and the Self-Reported Foot and Ankle Score (SEFAS).
The OMAS and SEFAS are both widely used PROM tools in the field of podiatry. The OMAS is a questionnaire that assesses the functional outcome after an ankle injury, while the SEFAS is a self-reported measure of foot and ankle health. These tools were used in conjunction with the ALR-RSI to provide a comprehensive assessment of the patients’ physical and psychological readiness to RTS.
The validation of the ALR-RSI as a tool for assessing psychological readiness to RTS is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it acknowledges the importance of psychological readiness in the recovery process after an ankle injury. While physical recovery is crucial, an athlete’s mental state plays a significant role in their ability to RTS. Fear of re-injury, anxiety, and lack of confidence can all hinder an athlete’s return to their sport.
Secondly, the validation of the ALR-RSI provides surgeons with a quantifiable measure of their patients’ psychological readiness to RTS. This can help guide the recovery process, allowing surgeons to tailor their approach based on the individual needs of their patients. It can also provide a benchmark for progress, giving both the surgeon and the patient a clear indication of where they are in the recovery process.
Finally, the use of the ALR-RSI in conjunction with the OMAS and SEFAS provides a holistic approach to assessing readiness to RTS. By considering both physical and psychological factors, surgeons can gain a more comprehensive understanding of their patients’ readiness to return to their sport.
In conclusion, the validation of the ALR-RSI as a tool for assessing psychological readiness to RTS after ankle fracture surgery is a significant step forward in the field of sports medicine. It acknowledges the importance of psychological readiness in the recovery process and provides surgeons with a quantifiable measure of this readiness. This can help guide the recovery process, providing a more tailored and holistic approach to patient care.
To read the full journal article, head to https://www.jfas.org/article/S1067-2516(23)00338-1/fulltext?rss=yes