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ACL TearROAR 2:PilotNCT05338385

Readiness Outcomes Affecting Return to Sport 2.0: An Intervention Feasibility & Pilot Study

A study testing Mental Skills Coaching in people with ACL Tear, run by Boston Children's Hospital at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to determine the feasibility of implementing a mental skills training intervention for adolescent athletes who tear their ACL and undergo ACL reconstruction surgery alongside receiving standard-of-care clinical treatment. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 8 to 25 years
Conditions the study is for
ACL Tear
What is being tested?
Mental Skills Coaching
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
3 May 2022to 31 Dec 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 8 to 25 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosis of a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
  • Undergoing ACL reconstruction at Boston Children's Hospital by a study-participating surgeon
  • Age at time of surgery between 8 and ≤ 25
  • English-speaking

Who cannot join

  • Torn medial collateral ligament (MCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) requiring reconstruction

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Boston Children's Hospital

    Waltham, Massachusetts, 02453

Other trials in United States

About this study

This study aims to determine the feasibility of implementing a mental skills training intervention for adolescent athletes who tear their ACL and undergo ACL reconstruction surgery alongside receiving standard-of-care clinical treatment. The study will also determine if the mental skills coaching program has any effect on the psychological readiness of patients to return to sport after undergoing surgery and postoperative recovery and rehabilitation. If feasible and if the mental skills training program shows promising effect on athletes' confidence in returning to sport, a large-scale clinical trial can be explored to assess the relationship between mental skills' impact on readiness to return to sport, which could in turn provide evidence on the benefits of integrating mental skills directly into standard clinical care.

Read the detailed description

Approximately 350,000 individuals undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery with using allograft or autograft in the US annually. Even with successful ACL surgery, subsequent ACL tear occurs at a rate of 2-24% in physically active population. Most published reports focused on the young adult population, but few studies have focused on physically active young athletes and their return to sports (RTS) after surgery. As successful RTS following ACL reconstruction can be physically and psychologically challenging, increased attention has been directed to better understand the role a patient's psychological readiness to RTS plays in the rehabilitation phase, but there is an overall need to establish effective tools to help improve psychological readiness to RTS during this phase.

Mental skills training aims to improve athlete performance. Individuals involved in collegiate-level sports face the challenge of balancing rigorous athletic and academic demands. Given these demands, there is increasing need for programs to help athletes at varying levels and ages develop the skills necessary to maintain optimal performance. Such programs speak to the need for student-athletes to train their mental game much in the same way they train their physical game. They emphasize the value of and the ability to teach confidence, adaptability, and resilience.

Researchers have employed both mindfulness- and psychological skills-based techniques as means to promote student-athlete mental toughness and improved performance outcome. Mindfulness increases nonjudgmental awareness of the present, and is an effective treatment in non-sport related arenas. Psychological skills training educates athletes on how to improve strategies such as imagery, self-talk, goal setting, and arousal regulation. While these interventions may vary somewhat in terms of approach, there is evidence that both tactics positively impact athlete performance. We believe that these theories can be translated to athletes who are recovering from injuries and be used effectively to get patients back to their sports confidently.

The goal of mental skills training is to help athletes maximize performance, reach self-determined goals, and build confidence in their fields of play. Many of the same tools that benefit athletes in sport performance also translate to their injury experience. Mental conditioning helps athletes navigate the many ups and downs that accompany ACL injury and recovery. Athletes are taught techniques to maintain their sport mindset by capitalizing on motivation, consistency, and resilience. One-on-one sessions are athlete-centered, and are designed to encourage exploration and growth through tangible mental skills strategies. Topics that may be addressed include mindset awareness, goal setting, stress management, mental imagery, cognitive restructuring, and positive self-talk.

Conditions
ACL Tear
Being tested
Mental Skills Coaching
Keywords
ACL tear, Mental Skills, Psychological Readiness
Medical subject headings
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Mental Skills CoachingBehavioural

    Participants will partake in a 1-hour pre-op initial intake, followed by five 30-min follow-up sessions at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 9-months post-op. All sessions will be one-on-one with the same master's-level mental skills coach. At each session, the provider will allow time for participants to share their current injury experience to date (i.e. how they are doing, challenges they have encountered). Following this, participants will be introduced to a series of mental skills tools, including but not limited to mindset awareness, motivation, cognitive restructuring, goal setting, and objective performance assessment. Participants will be provided with handouts outlining the strategies addressed to help maintain consistency of mental skills engagement between sessions.

Study groups in NCT05338385
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
InterventionExperimentalParticipants will receive mental skills training in addition to receiving standard-of-care ACL reconstruction and follow-up care. The goal of mental skills training is to help athletes maximize performance, reach self-determined goals, and build confidence in their fields of play. Many of the same tools that benefit athletes in sport performance also translate to their injury experience. Mental conditioning helps athletes navigate the many ups and downs that accompany ACL injury and recovery. Athletes are taught techniques to maintain their sport mindset by capitalizing on motivation, consistency, and resilience. One-on-one sessions are athlete-centered, and are designed to encourage exploration and growth through tangible mental skills strategies.
Receives: Behavioral: Mental Skills Coaching

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. ACL-Return to Sports after Injury (ACL-RSI)

    Questionnaire used to measure the psychological impact of returning to sport after ACL reconstruction surgery. Patients will complete this questionnaire at the clinic visit when they are cleared to RTS at either their 6-month or 9-month postoperative follow-up clinical visit. There are 12 questions that are rated on a 0-10 scale. Overall, this outcome measure is scored 0-100 (higher score = more psychologically ready to RTS). A score greater than or equal to 77% indicates that the patient is psychologically ready to RTS.

    Measured: 6-9 months postop

  2. PROMIS Psychological Stress Experience - Bank (CAT version)

    Assesses the thoughts or feelings about the world in the context of environmental or internal challenges. Patients will complete at the time of enrollment, any additional clinical visit, including 3 months, 6 months, and/or 9 months after surgery. There are 19 questions that are rated on a 1-5 scale. Overall, this outcome measure is scored 18-95 (lower score = less stress). Raw scores are then converted into T-scores.

    Measured: 6-9 months postop

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted21 Apr 2022
  2. Study start3 May 2022
  3. Primary completion28 Feb 2023
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
30 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05338385
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB-P00039872
Acronym
ROAR 2:Pilot
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
7 Mar 2022
Last updated
7 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Wojtys EM, Brower AM. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the prepubescent and adolescent athlete: clinical and research considerations. J Athl Train. 2010 Sep-Oct;45(5):509-12. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-45.5.509. No abstract available.

    PubMed 20831399
  • Hettrich CM, Dunn WR, Reinke EK; MOON Group; Spindler KP. The rate of subsequent surgery and predictors after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: two- and 6-year follow-up results from a multicenter cohort. Am J Sports Med. 2013 Jul;41(7):1534-40. doi: 10.1177/0363546513490277. Epub 2013 May 30.

    PubMed 23722056
  • Wright RW, Magnussen RA, Dunn WR, Spindler KP. Ipsilateral graft and contralateral ACL rupture at five years or more following ACL reconstruction: a systematic review. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011 Jun 15;93(12):1159-65. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.J.00898.

    PubMed 21776554
  • Paterno MV, Schmitt LC, Ford KR, Rauh MJ, Myer GD, Huang B, Hewett TE. Biomechanical measures during landing and postural stability predict second anterior cruciate ligament injury after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and return to sport. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Oct;38(10):1968-78. doi: 10.1177/0363546510376053. Epub 2010 Aug 11.

    PubMed 20702858
  • Oiestad BE, Holm I, Aune AK, Gunderson R, Myklebust G, Engebretsen L, Fosdahl MA, Risberg MA. Knee function and prevalence of knee osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective study with 10 to 15 years of follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Nov;38(11):2201-10. doi: 10.1177/0363546510373876. Epub 2010 Aug 16.

    PubMed 20713644
  • Oiestad BE, Holm I, Engebretsen L, Risberg MA. The association between radiographic knee osteoarthritis and knee symptoms, function and quality of life 10-15 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Br J Sports Med. 2011 Jun;45(7):583-8. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2010.073130. Epub 2010 Jul 20.

    PubMed 20647299
  • Lohmander LS, Englund PM, Dahl LL, Roos EM. The long-term consequence of anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries: osteoarthritis. Am J Sports Med. 2007 Oct;35(10):1756-69. doi: 10.1177/0363546507307396. Epub 2007 Aug 29.

    PubMed 17761605
  • Vealey, S. R. (2007). Mental skills training in sport. In G. Tenenbaum, R. Eklund, & R. Singer (Eds.), Handbook of sport psychology (pp. 287-309). Wiley. Hoboken, NJ.

  • Humphrey, J. H., Yow, D. A., & Bowden, W. W. (2000). Stress in college athletics: Causes, consequences, coping. The Haworth Half-Court Press. Binghamton, NY.

  • Kimball, A., & Freysinger, V. J. (2003). Leisure, stress, and coping: The sport participation of collegiate student-athletes. Leisure Sciences, 25(2-3), 115-141.

  • Papanikolaou, Z., Nikolaidis, D., Patsiaouras, A., & Alexopoulos, P. (2003). The freshman experience: High stress-low grades. Athletic Insight: The On-line Journal of Sport Psychology, 5.

  • Sallen J, Hemming K, Richartz A. Facilitating dual careers by improving resistance to chronic stress: effects of an intervention programme for elite student athletes. Eur J Sport Sci. 2018 Feb;18(1):112-122. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2017.1407363. Epub 2017 Dec 3.

    PubMed 29199550
  • Ajilchi B, Amini HR, Ardakani ZP, Zadeh MM, Kisely S. Applying mindfulness training to enhance the mental toughness and emotional intelligence of amateur basketball players. Australas Psychiatry. 2019 Jun;27(3):291-296. doi: 10.1177/1039856219828119. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

    PubMed 30763131
  • Jones BJ, Kaur S, Miller M, Spencer RMC. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Benefits Psychological Well-Being, Sleep Quality, and Athletic Performance in Female Collegiate Rowers. Front Psychol. 2020 Sep 18;11:572980. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.572980. eCollection 2020.

    PubMed 33071908
  • Rothlin P, Birrer D, Horvath S, Grosse Holtforth M. Psychological skills training and a mindfulness-based intervention to enhance functional athletic performance: design of a randomized controlled trial using ambulatory assessment. BMC Psychol. 2016 Jul 26;4(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s40359-016-0147-y.

    PubMed 27457721

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Mental Skills Coaching in people with ACL Tear, run by Boston Children's Hospital at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

ACL-Return to Sports after Injury (ACL-RSI) (time frame: 6-9 months postop). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05338385, which also lists 15 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 May 2026.

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