Work

Wearable near-infrared spectroscopy device to quantify rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A case study on division I collegiate football athletes

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The anterior cruciate ligament is critical for stabilizing the knee during high-performance activities. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery, combined with rehabilitation, is the standard treatment for tears; however, determining readiness to return to sport remains challenging. Traditional return to sport assessments often fail to capture physiological recovery, emphasizing the need for precise, objective biomarkers. Near-infrared spectroscopy offers real-time, non-invasive insights into muscle oxygen saturation, providing an objective means to quantify recovery. This study investigated the utility of a wearable NIRS sensor to monitor muscle oxygen saturation levels in two Division 1 football athletes recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, with a focus on assessing inter-athlete recovery variability and its implications for RTS decisions. This longitudinal case study monitored muscle oxygen saturation using the Moxy Muscle Oxygen Monitor in the surgical and contralateral legs of two athletes at 1, 3-, 5-, 6-, and 7-months post-surgery during functional exercises (leg raises and quad sets). The study highlights the capacity of near infrared spectroscopy based wearable sensors to capture inter-individual variability over the rehabilitation continuum towards providing real-time physiological insights beyond traditional subjective or qualitative-based assessments. These findings support the integration of wearable technology into lower extremity rehabilitation protocols to enhance recovery evaluations improve athlete safety.

Source: Biomedical Engineering Advances

DOI: 10.1016/j.bea.2025.100193

Authors: Joseph Amitrano, Milad Zarrinfar, Marco Giuliani, Kevin Cahill, Mark A. Seeley, Dhruv R. Seshadri

Institutions: Lehigh University, Geisinger Health System

Language: English

Topic: Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,020