The relationship between personality and functional ability following anterior cruciate ligament injury
Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury occurs often, and nearly 70 percent of the time
from a non-contact mechanism. Certain neuropsychological characteristics and changes
in cerebral cortex activation have been linked to this mechanism. Personality may
contribute to risk of non-contact injury and restoration of function. This emerging area of
research may disclose new results that compliment current rehabilitation given the central
nervous system’s ability to undergo plastic changes. The purpose of this study was to
evaluate the constructs locus of control (LOC), grit, mental toughness, sensation seeking,
and kinesiophobia in ACL deficient (ACLD) and healthy subjects. Twenty-one healthy
controls and seven individuals who suffered non-contact ACL injury participated in this
study. Injuries were sustained during physical activity approximately 42 days prior to
participation. Each subject completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control
(MHLC), Grit Scale, Mental Toughness 18-Item Questionnaire (MT18), Sensation
Seeking Scale-V (SSS-V), and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK). The ACLD
subjects additionally reported the number of incidences of “giving way” and completed
the Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living (KOS-ADL) and the global rating
of knee function to be classified as potential copers or non-copers. Independent samples
t-tests were used to determine construct differences between the ACLD and healthy
subjects. There was significantly greater sensation seeking in the ACLD group (p = .017). Although not significant, the ACLD subjects displayed more internal LOC than the
healthy subjects (30.17±3.06, 26.95±4.47, respectively, p = .113) and less external LOC
attributed to powerful others (14.00±4.82, 17.76±4.58, respectively, p = .091). The
expression of more sensation seeking and internal LOC may permit choices whereby
more risk is deemed acceptable and this may create more chances for injurious events.
On the contrary, externalists are more responsive to stress which may predispose them to
injury because heightened arousal can alter motor output. Fear was related to the number
of episodes of “giving way” (r = .67). Moments of instability may contribute to being
more fearful, which may impede rehabilitation. This research suggests psychological
constructs such as sensation seeking, LOC, and fear may contribute to the dynamic
restraint mechanism and functional outcome of ACLD patients.