Developing and Validating the Risk-taking Intention and Sport Engagement After ACL Reconstruction (RISE-ACL) Scale

Psychological factors play a critical role in recovery following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. While tools such as the ACL - Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) focus on psychological readiness, emphasizing fear, hesitation, and apprehension, the opposite spectrum-overconfidence and risk-taking behaviors-remains underexplored. These behaviors can lead to premature return to high-risk activities and an increased likelihood of re-injury. To address this gap, we propose the development and validation of the RISE-ACL scale for assessing Risk-taking Intention and Sport Engagement after ACL reconstruction. This scale will assess key factors such as patients' willingness to engage in high-impact activities, their adherence to medical guidance, and their perceived readiness to resume sports despite potential physical or psychological limitations. The RISE-ACL Scale will complement existing tools like the ACL-RSI by focusing on overconfidence and risk-taking, offering clinicians a more balanced perspective on psychological recovery. Validation of the scale will involve testing its validity, reliability and clinical utility to ensure accurate identification of at-risk individuals. By providing actionable insights, the RISE-ACL Scale will help enhance post-operative care, promote safer return-to-play decisions, and optimize long-term outcomes through a comprehensive assessment of psychological and behavioral factors.