Dynamic joint control training for knee ligament injuries

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to introduce dynamic joint control training and to assess its effects in improv ing neuromuscular coordination of injured knees using the Kin-Com Isokinetic Dynamometer. Although four patients had a sensation of "giving way" on one knee, all eight knees were trained for 3 months using unstable boards with added sudden force given by a therapist. The training group (four patients) was examined during four sessions and the control group (five subjects) was examined during three sessions within a 3 month pe riod. All subjects were instructed to react to the sudden forward movement of the input arm of the Kin-Com Isokinetic Dynamometer with contraction of the ham string. Results of the first and final trials of peak torque time (PTT) and rising torque value (RTV) of the ham string between the training and control groups showed significant improvement. There was no correlation be tween isometric muscle strength (IMS) and PTT in the total 76 sessions. There is a strong implication that simple muscle training does not increase the speed of muscular reaction but dynamic joint control training has the potential to shorten the time lag of muscular reac tion.