Dynamic-Position-Sense Impairment’s Independence of Perceived Knee Function in Women With ACL Reconstruction

Context:There is conflicting evidence in the literature regarding whether women with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) demonstrate impaired proprioception. This study examined dynamic-position-sense accuracy and central-nervous-system (CNS) processing time between those with and without long-term ACLR.Objective:To compare proprioception of knee movement in women with ACLR and healthy controls.Design:Cross-sectional.Setting:Human neuromuscular performance laboratory.Participants:11 women (age 22.64 ± 2.4 y) with ACLR (1.6–5.8 y postsurgery) and 20 women without (age 24.05 ± 1.4 y).Interventions:The authors evaluated subjects using 3 methods to assess position sense. During knee flexion at pseudorandomly selected speeds (40°, 60°, 80°, 90°, and 100°/s), subjects indicated with their index finger when their knee reached a predetermined target angle (50°). Accuracy was calculated as an error score. CNS processing time was computed using the time to detect movement and the minimum time of angle indication. Passive and active joint-position sense were also determined at a slow velocity (3°/s) from various knee-joint starting angles.Main Outcome Measurements:Absolute and constant error of target angle, indication accuracy, CNS processing time, and perceived function.Results:Both subject groups showed similar levels of error during dynamic-position-sense testing, despite continued differences in perceived knee function. Estimated CNS processing time was 260 ms for both groups. Joint-position sense during slow active or passive movement did not differ between cohorts.Conclusions:Control and ACLR subjects demonstrated similar dynamic, passive, and active joint-position-sense error and CNS processing speed even though ACLR subjects reported greater impairment of function. The impairment of proprioception is independent of post-ACLR perception of function.

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Effect of Load, Angle, and Contraction Type on Clinically Assessed Knee Joint Position Sense

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2020-0552 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Adam L. Haggerty ◽

Janet E. Simon ◽

Dustin R. Grooms ◽

Jeffrey A. Russell

Keyword(s):

Body Position ◽

Eccentric Contraction ◽

Position Sense ◽

Joint Position Sense ◽

Joint Position ◽

Active Joint ◽

Concentric Contraction ◽

Target Angle ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Contraction Type

Context: Proprioception is an individual’s awareness of body position in 3-dimensional space. How proprioceptive acuity changes under varying conditions such as joint position, load, and concentric or eccentric contraction type is not well understood. In addition, a limitation of the variety of techniques to assess proprioception is the lack of clinically feasible methods to capture proprioceptive acuity. The purpose of this study was to implement a readily available instrument, a smartphone, in the clinical evaluation of knee active joint position sense and to determine how joint angle, joint loading, and quadriceps contraction type affect an individual’s active joint position sense. Design: Cross-over study. Methods: Twenty healthy, physically active university participants (10 women and 10 men: 21.4 [2.0] y; 1.73 [0.1] m; 70.9 [14.3] kg) were recruited. Individuals were included if they had no neurological disorder, no prior knee surgery, and no recent knee injury. The participants were given a verbal instruction to locate a target angle and then were tasked with reproducing the target angle without visual or verbal cues. An accelerometer application on a smartphone was used to assess the angle to the nearest tenth of a degree. Three variables, each with 2 levels, were analyzed in this study: load (weighted and unweighted), contraction type (eccentric and concentric), and joint position (20° and 70°). A repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted to assess the within-subjects factors of load, contraction, and position. Results: A significant difference of 0.50° (0.19°) of greater error with eccentric versus concentric contraction (P = .02) type was identified. In addition, a significant interaction was found for contraction × position, with a mean increase in error of 0.98° (0.33°) at the 20° position when contracting eccentrically (P = .03). Conclusions: Contraction type, specifically eccentric contraction at 20°, showed significantly greater error than concentric contraction. This suggests that, during eccentric contractions of the quadriceps, there may be decreased proprioceptive sensitivity compared with concentric contractions.

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The Effect of Target Position on the Accuracy of Cervical-Spine-Rotation Active Joint-Position Sense

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2014-0263 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 58-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Takashi Nagai ◽

Nicholas C. Clark ◽

John P. Abt ◽

Timothy C. Sell ◽

Nicholas R. Heebner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Human Performance ◽

Target Position ◽

Position Sense ◽

Joint Position Sense ◽

Joint Position ◽

Active Joint ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cervical Rotation

Context:The cervical spine can be divided into upper and lower units, each making a different contribution to the magnitude of rotation and proprioception. However, few studies have examined the effect of the cervical-rotation positions on proprioception.Objective:To compare cervical-spine rotation active joint-position sense (AJPS) near midrange of motion (mid-ROM; 30°) and near end-ROM (60°).Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting:Human performance research laboratory.Participants:53 military helicopter pilots (age 28.4 ± 6.2 y, height 175.3 ± 9.3 cm, weight 80.1 ± 11.8 kg).Main Outcome Measures:A motion-analysis system was used to record cervical-rotation kinematics. Subjects sat in a chair wearing a headband and blindfold. First, they actively rotated the head right or left to a target position (30°/60°), with real-time verbal cues provided by the tester. Subjects held the target position for 5 s and then returned to the start position. After this, they replicated the target position as closely as possible. Five trials were performed in both directions to both target positions (R30/R60/L30/L60). Order of direction/position was randomized. The difference between target and replicated positions was calculated and defined as absolute error (AE), and the mean of 5 trials was used for analyses. Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests were used to compare AJPS at the different target positions (P < .0125 with Bonferroni adjustments).Results:End-ROM AEs were significantly more accurate than mid-ROM AEs (P = .001).Conclusion:Cervical-spine-rotation AJPS is more accurate near end-ROM than mid-ROM. Both target positions should be used to examine cervical-spine-rotation AJPS of both the upper and lower units.

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Immediate Effects of Kinesiology Taping of Quadriceps on Motor Performance after Muscle Fatigued Induction

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/410526 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ick Keun Ahn ◽

You Lim Kim ◽

Young-Hyeon Bae ◽

Suk Min Lee

Keyword(s):

Motor Performance ◽

Muscle Power ◽

Peak Torque ◽

Position Sense ◽

Joint Position Sense ◽

Static Balance ◽

Joint Position ◽

Active Joint ◽

Balance Test ◽

Cross Sectional

Objectives. The purpose of this cross-sectional single-blind study was to investigate the immediate effects of Kinesiology taping of quadriceps on motor performance after muscle fatigued induction.Design. Randomized controlled cross-sectional design.Subjects. Forty-five subjects participated in this study. Participants were divided into three groups: Kinesiology taping group, placebo taping group, and nontaping group.Methods. Subjects performed short-term exercise for muscle fatigued induction, followed by the application of each intervention. Peak torque test, one-leg single hop test, active joint position sense test, and one-leg static balance test were carried out before and after the intervention.Results. Peak torque and single-leg hopping distance were significantly increased when Kinesiology taping was applied (p<0.05). But there were no significant effects on active joint position sense and single-leg static balance.Conclusions. We proved that Kinesiology taping is effective in restoring muscle power reduced after muscle fatigued induction. Therefore, we suggest that Kinesiology taping is beneficial for fatigued muscles.

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Alterations in sensorimotor function after ACL reconstruction during active joint position sense testing. A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0253503 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. e0253503

Author(s):

Aglaja Busch ◽

Angela Blasimann ◽

Frank Mayer ◽

Heiner Baur

Keyword(s):

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Position Sense ◽

Contralateral Side ◽

Joint Position Sense ◽

Sensorimotor Function ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Joint Position ◽

Active Joint ◽

Anterior Cruciate

Background The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture can lead to impaired knee function. Reconstruction decreases the mechanical instability but might not have an impact on sensorimotor alterations. Objective Evaluation of the sensorimotor function measured with the active joint position sense (JPS) test in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed patients compared to the contralateral side and a healthy control group. Methods The databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro, Cochrane Library and SPORTDiscus were systematically searched from origin until April 2020. Studies published in English, German, French, Spanish or Italian language were included. Evaluation of the sensorimotor performance was restricted to the active joint position sense test in ACL reconstructed participants or healthy controls. The Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Study quality was evaluated using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Data was descriptively synthesized. Results Ten studies were included after application of the selective criteria. Higher angular deviation, reaching significant difference (p < 0.001) in one study, was shown up to three months after surgery in the affected limb. Six months post-operative significantly less error (p < 0.01) was found in the reconstructed leg compared to the contralateral side and healthy controls. One or more years after ACL reconstruction significant differences were inconsistent along the studies. Conclusions Altered sensorimotor function was present after ACL reconstruction. Due to inconsistencies and small magnitudes, clinical relevance might be questionable. JPS testing can be performed in acute injured persons and prospective studies could enhance knowledge of sensorimotor function throughout the rehabilitative processes.

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The Analysis of Proprioception Alteration during First Five Months after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences ◽

10.33607/bjshs.v1i84.293 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (84) ◽

Author(s):

Vilma Jurevičienė ◽

Albertas Skurvydas ◽

Juozas Belickas ◽

Giedra Bušmanienė ◽

Dovilė Kielė ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽

Angular Velocity ◽

Knee Joint ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Position Sense ◽

Joint Position Sense ◽

Joint Position ◽

Starting Position ◽

Angular Velocities ◽

Anterior Cruciate

Research background and hypothesis. Proprioception is important in the prevention of injuries as reduced proprioception is one of the factors contributing to injury in the knee joint, particularly the ACL. Therefore, proprioception appears not only important for the prevention of ACL injuries, but also for regaining full function after ACL reconstruction.Research aim. The aim of this study was to understand how proprioception is recovered four and five months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.Research methods. The study included 15 male subjects (age – 33.7 ± 2.49 years) who had undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction with a semitendinosus/gracilis (STG) graft in Kaunas Clinical Hospital. For proprioceptive assessment, joint position sense (JPS) was measured on both legs using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex), at knee flexion of 60° and 70°, and at different knee angular velocities of 2°/s and 10°/s. The patients were assessed preoperatively and after 4 and 5 months, postoperatively.Research results. Our study has shown that the JPS’s (joint position sense) error scores to a controlled active movement is significantly higher in injured ACL-deficient knee than in the contralateral knee (normal knee) before surgery and after four and five months of rehabilitation. After 4 and 5 months of rehabilitation we found significantly lower values in injured knees compared to the preoperative data. Our study has shown that in injured knee active angle reproduction errors after 4 and 5 months of rehabilitation were higher compared with the ones of the uninjured knee. Proprioceptive ability on the both legs was independent of all differences angles for target and starting position for movement. The knee joint position sense on both legs depends upon the rate of two different angular velocities and the mean active angle reproduction errors at the test of angular velocity slow speed was the highest compared with the fast angular velocity. Discussion and conclusions. In conclusion, our study shows that there was improvement in mean JPS 4 and 5 months after ACL reconstruction, but it did not return to normal indices.Keywords: knee joint, joint position sense, angular velocity, starting position for movement.

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