Body-Weight Changes and Physical Activity After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Males gained significantly more weight than females in the first 6 months after ACLR.

• Males gained 3.4 ± 4.6 kg (P < .001) compared to females who gained 1.1 ± 2.9 kg (P = .03).
• Study included 61 individuals (34 females, 27 males; age range 13–35 years, BMI < 35).
• Body weight was measured preoperatively and at two postoperative time points: early phase (10.4 ± 2.4 weeks) and midphase (26.9 ± 2.6 weeks).
• A 2-way mixed (time × sex) analysis of variance was used to analyze weight changes.

Males had substantially higher odds of gaining 5% or more body weight compared to females.

• Males had 5.407 to 10.025 times higher odds of ≥5% weight gain than females.
• This finding was consistent across logistic regression models incorporating different PA measures at both early and midphase time points.
• Sex was included as a predictor variable in logistic regression models along with PA levels and age.

PA levels, sedentary behavior, and age did not independently predict weight gain of ≥5% after ACLR.

• Despite significant overall logistic regression models, individual predictors of daily steps, daily MVPA, daily sedentary behavior, and age did not independently predict ≥5% weight gain.
• The authors had hypothesized that lower PA levels and longer sedentary time would predict greater weight gain, which was not supported.
• PA was assessed using accelerometry measuring daily steps, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and sedentary behavior.

Overall logistic regression models incorporating PA measures significantly predicted ≥5% body weight gain at both early and midphase time points after ACLR.

• Early phase models: daily steps χ²(3) = 11.231, P = .01; daily MVPA χ²(3) = 12.843, P = .005; daily sedentary behavior χ²(3) = 10.794, P = .01.
• Midphase models: daily steps χ²(3) = 10.320, P = .02; daily MVPA χ²(3) = 12.451, P = .006; daily sedentary behavior χ²(3) = 10.003, P = .02.
• Models included PA levels, age, and sex as predictors.
• The significance of the overall models was largely driven by sex rather than PA or age variables.

Weight gain after ACLR is common and the study recommends incorporating targeted weight-management strategies into rehabilitation.

• All participants underwent primary ACLR with autograft, could have had concomitant meniscal repair, and had no extended weightbearing restrictions.
• The study was conducted at an academic hospital and private sports medicine clinic.
• The authors recommend incorporating nutritional and metabolic health interventions into ACLR rehabilitation to optimize recovery.
• The study was a case series design with a 6-month follow-up window.