Anterior Cruciate Ligament Recovery With Virtual Psychological Intervention

August 25, 2026 updated by: Thomas Lynch, Henry Ford Health System

Randomized Control Trial of the Impact of a Virtual Psychological Intervention on the Outcomes of ACLR

The goal of this parallel arm prospective randomized control trial study is to compare outcomes in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) Surgery patients after exposure to a virtual psychological intervention (VPI) versus standard care. The main question the investigators are asking is if virtual administration of psychological CBT modules will be an accessible and convenient vehicle to improve ACLR outcomes. Participants will be placed either into a treatment group receiving virtual modules of cognitive behavioral therapy in addition to standard of care ACLR surgery or the control group receiving only the standard of care ACLR surgery. The investigators hypothesize that ACLR patients in the VPI cohort will have improved return to sport and post operative outcomes compared to controls.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study is a parallel arm prospective randomized-controlled trial. The expected duration of the study is two years. Participants will be placed either into a treatment group receiving virtual modules of cognitive behavioral therapy in addition to standard of care ACLR surgery or the control group receiving only the standard of care ACLR surgery. Trial eligibility criteria are as follows: patients over the age of 12 undergoing first time ACLR with a HFH Sports Orthopedic surgeon. Eligible participants will be randomized using computerized random number generation into two groups: Group A and Group B. Both groups will receive the same standard post-operative rehabilitation protocol. An asynchronous course of pre- and post-operative CBT modules (VPI) will be delivered to patients in Group A as an adjuvant treatment to standard-of-care rehabilitation. Each session is designed to provide patients with different CBT strategies to augment their recovery. Sessions will be delivered virtually by trained health professionals. Participants in Group B will receive standard-of-care rehabilitation only. Demographic information and additional protected health information will be handled securely in a securedatabase. Pre-operative PROMIS and PHQ-2 scores will be obtained for both groups via electronic medical record abstraction. Primary endpoints are as follows: Return to sport, defined as return to pre-injury involvement in the patient's respective sport at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Secondary outcomes are as follows: Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores, a validated patient reported outcome instrument, Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) scores, a validated depression screening questionnaire, ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scores, a validated scale to measure the psychological impact of returning to sport following ACLR3, Post-operative opioid usage and Utilization of additional counseling options (i.e., referral to behavioral health services)

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Michigan
      • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48202
        • Recruiting
        • Henry Ford Health System
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients over the age of 12 with ACL injuries undergoing ACLR with a Henry Ford Sports Orthopedic Surgeon
  • First time ACLR on the injured knee

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients undergoing revision ACL surgery
  • Concomitant posterior cruciate ligament injury of the involved knee
  • Systemic or local infection pre-operatively
  • Systemic administration of any type of corticosteroid or immunosuppressive agents within 30 days of surgery
  • History of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, or autoimmune diseases
  • Pregnancy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Standard Post-Operative Rehabilitation
No intervention, patients will receive the standard level of care.
Active Comparator: Virtual Psychological Intervention
An asynchronous course of pre- and post-operative CBT modules (VPI) will be delivered to patients in Group A as an adjuvant treatment to standard-of-care rehabilitation.
Behavioral: Virtual Psychological Intervention: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
An asynchronous course of pre- and post-operative CBT modules (VPI) will be delivered to patients in Group A as an adjuvant treatment to standard-of-care rehabilitation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of patients who Return to Sport at time set-points
Time Frame: 3,6,12 and 24 months
Comparing number of patients who Return to sport, defined as return to pre-injury involvement in the patient's respective sport at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months in each trial group.
3,6,12 and 24 months
Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores for Physical Function and Pain Interference
Time Frame: 3,6,12, and 24 months
Comparing in each trial group, A validated patient reported outcome instrument where 50 is the average reference score of the patient population and the standard deviation is 10. For PROMIS measures, higher scores equals more of the concept being measured (e.g., more Pain Interference, more Physical Function). Thus a score of 60 is one standard deviation above the average referenced population. This could be a desirable or undesirable outcome, depending upon the concept being measured.
3,6,12, and 24 months
Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) scores
Time Frame: 3,6,12, and 24 months
Avalidated depression screening questionnaire with 3 points or more meaning a positive screen
3,6,12, and 24 months
ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scores
Time Frame: 3,6,12 and 24 months
A validated scale to measure the psychological impact of returning to sport following ACLR. There are three domains: risk appraisal, confidence, and emotions. A total score between 0 and 100 is calculated by adding and averaging the scores for each item. Greater psychological preparation is indicated by higher scores.
3,6,12 and 24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Post-operative opioid usage
Time Frame: 0-24 months post-operatively
the amount of usage of opioid medication post-operatively
0-24 months post-operatively
Number of patients with Utilization of additional counseling options (i.e., referral to behavioral health services)
Time Frame: 0-24 months post-operatively
Utilization of additional counseling options (i.e., referral to behavioral health services)
0-24 months post-operatively

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Henry Ford Health System

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Thomas Sean Lynch, MD, Henry Ford Health System

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 20, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 20, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 28, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 25, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 16012

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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