Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament injury influences joint loading during walking but not hopping
- 8 March 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Vol. 43 (6), 423-428
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2008.056846
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify changes in clinical outcome and lower extremity biomechanics during walking and hopping in ACL-injured subjects before and after a 20-session neuromuscular and strength training programme. Study design: Pre and post experimental design. Setting: Outpatient clinic, primary care. Patients: 32 subjects with unilateral ACL injury, mean 60 (SD 35) days after injury, with a mean age of 26.2 (5.4) years. Intervention: The rehabilitation programme consisted of neuromuscular and strength exercises. Main outcome measurements: Outcome measurements assessed before and after a 20-session rehabilitation programme were: self-assessment questionnaires (KOS-ADL, IKDC2000, Global function), four single-leg hop tests, and isokinetic muscle strength tests. Lower extremity kinematics and kinetics were captured during the stance phase of gait and landing after a single leg hop, synchronised with three force plates. Results: These ACL-injured individuals significantly improved their clinical outcome after rehabilitation. Gait analysis disclosed a significantly improved knee extension moment after rehabilitation, but no change in hip or knee excursions. During landing after hop no change in knee excursion or knee moment was recorded. Conclusion: After rehabilitation the ACL-injured subjects showed a significantly improved clinical outcome, but lower extremity biomechanics were still significantly impaired during both walking and hopping. The rehabilitation programme influenced knee joint loading during walking, but not during hopping. Longer rehabilitation should be considered before ACL-injured individuals return to jumping activities.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Knee kinematics and kinetics in former soccer players with a 16-year-old ACL injury – the effects of twelve weeks of knee-specific trainingBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2007
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female AthletesThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2006
- The Effects of Plyometric versus Dynamic Stabilization and Balance Training on Lower Extremity BiomechanicsThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2006
- Fate of the ACL-injured PatientThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1994
- Quadriceps strength and functional capacity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstructionThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1993
- Quantitative evaluation of knee instability and muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar and quadriceps tendonThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1992
- Function of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles in knees with chronic partial deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligamentThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1992
- Abnormal lower limb symmetry determined by function hop tests after anterior cruciate ligament ruptureThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1991
- Instrumented measurement of anterior knee laxity in patients with acute anterior cruciate ligament disruptionThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1985
- Overall principle of lower limb support during stance phase of gaitJournal of Biomechanics, 1980