scholarly journals Physiotherapy and Electrical Stimulation Effects on Strength of M. Quadriceps, Knee Range of Motion and Pain in Patients Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Operation

Author(s):  
Justina Marčiulionytė ◽  
Justinas Škikas ◽  
Saulė Sipavičienė

Background. Research aim was to analyze the quadriceps muscle strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using electrical stimulation and physical therapy. Methods. There were two randomly selected groups, with eight people in each group. The selection criteria were that the subjects had to have anterior cruciate ligament operation six weeks prior and were very active physically. One group was for research (study group), the other one for reference (control group). The study group had electrical stimulation combined with physical therapy exercises two times a week, for 45 minutes. The control group had exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscle also two times a week, for 45 minutes. Both groups were tested before and after the research. The things evaluated during the test were – visual pain scale (VAS) scores, quadriceps muscle strength during extension and flexion using (R. Lovett) scoring system and goniometry showing degrees of extension and flexion. Results. Comparing both study and control groups, there was statistically signifcant improvement (p < 0.05), however the study group recovered faster and had statistically greater benefts. Conclusions. After 6 weeks of physiotherapy, the range of motion, quadriceps muscle strength increased and pain decreased in the operated leg. 1. After 6 weeks of physiotherapy and electrical stimulation, the range of motion, quadriceps muscle strength increased and pain decreased in the operated leg. 2. After 6 weeks of physiotherapy and electrical stimulation, the range of motion, quadriceps muscle strength, pain in the operated leg changed more in the study group than in subjects who received only physical therapy.Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament, electrical stimulation, quadriceps muscle, ligament reconstruction, muscle strength.

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Hart ◽  
Brian Pietrosimone ◽  
Jay Hertel ◽  
Christopher D. Ingersoll

Abstract Context: Arthrogenic muscle inhibition is an important underlying factor in persistent quadriceps muscle weakness after knee injury or surgery. Objective: To determine the magnitude and prevalence of volitional quadriceps activation deficits after knee injury. Data Sources: Web of Science database. Study Selection: Eligible studies involved human participants and measured quadriceps activation using either twitch interpolation or burst superimposition on patients with knee injuries or surgeries such as anterior cruciate ligament deficiency (ACLd), anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr), and anterior knee pain (AKP). Data Extraction: Means, measures of variability, and prevalence of quadriceps activation (QA) failure (&lt;95%) were recorded for experiments involving ACLd (10), ACLr (5), and AKP (3). Data Synthesis: A total of 21 data sets from 18 studies were initially identified. Data from 3 studies (1 paper reporting data for both ACLd and ACLr, 1 on AKP, and the postarthroscopy paper) were excluded from the primary analyses because only graphical data were reported. Of the remaining 17 data sets (from 15 studies), weighted mean QA in 352 ACLd patients was 87.3% on the involved side, 89.1% on the uninvolved side, and 91% in control participants. The QA failure prevalence ranged from 0% to 100%. Weighted mean QA in 99 total ACLr patients was 89.2% on the involved side, 84% on the uninvolved side, and 98.5% for the control group, with prevalence ranging from 0% to 71%. Thirty-eight patients with AKP averaged 78.6% on the involved side and 77.7% on the contralateral side. Bilateral QA failure was commonly reported in patients. Conclusions: Quadriceps activation failure is common in patients with ACLd, ACLr, and AKP and is often observed bilaterally.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Curran ◽  
Asheesh Bedi ◽  
Christopher L. Mendias ◽  
Edward M. Wojtys ◽  
Megan V. Kujawa ◽  
...  

Background: A major goal of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is restoring quadriceps muscle strength. Unfortunately, current rehabilitation paradigms fall short of this goal, such that substantial quadriceps muscle strength deficits can limit return to play and increase the risk of recurrent injuries. Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) involves the obstruction of venous return to working muscles during exercise and may lead to better recovery of quadriceps muscle strength after ACLR. Purpose: To examine the efficacy of BFRT with high-intensity exercise on the recovery of quadriceps muscle function in patients undergoing ACLR. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 34 patients (19 female, 15 male; mean age, 16.5 ± 2.7 years; mean height, 169.0 ± 19.7 cm; mean weight, 73.2 ± 17.7 kg) scheduled to undergo ACLR were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: concentric (n = 8), eccentric (n = 8), concentric with BFRT (n = 9), and eccentric with BFRT (n = 9). The exercise component of the intervention consisted of patients performing a single-leg isokinetic leg press, at an intensity of 70% of the patients’ 1-repetition maximum during either the concentric or eccentric action, for 4 sets of 10 repetitions 2 times per week for 8 weeks beginning at 10 weeks postoperatively. Patients randomized to the BFRT groups performed the leg-press exercise with a cuff applied to the thigh, set to a limb occlusion pressure of 80%. Isometric and isokinetic (60 deg/s) quadriceps peak torque, quadriceps muscle activation, and rectus femoris muscle volume were assessed before ACLR, after BFRT, and at the time that patients returned to activity and were converted to the change in values from baseline for analysis. Also, 1-way analyses of covariance were used to compare the change in values for each dependent variable between groups after BFRT and at return to activity ( P ≤ .05). Results: No significant differences were found between groups for any outcome measures at either time point ( P > .05). Conclusion: An 8-week BFRT plus high-intensity exercise intervention did not significantly improve quadriceps muscle strength, activation, or volume. On the basis of our findings, the use of BFRT in conjunction with high-intensity resistance exercise in patients undergoing ACLR to improve quadriceps muscle function may not be warranted. Registration: NCT03141801 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)


2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lazar Stijak ◽  
Marko Bumbasirevic ◽  
Marko Kadija ◽  
Gordana Stankovic ◽  
Richard Herzog ◽  
...  

Background/Aim. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most frequently injured ligament of the knee, representing 50% of all knee injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the morphometry of knee injury patients with an intact and a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Methods. The study included 33 matched pairs of patients divided into two groups: the study group with the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament rupture, and the control group with the diagnosis of patellofemoral pain but no anterior cruciate ligament lesion. The patients were matched on the basis of 4 attributes: age, sex, type of lesion (whether it was profession- related), and whether the lesion was left- or right-sided. Measurements were carried out using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results. The anterior and posterior edges of the anterior cruciate ligament in the control group were highly significantly smaller (p < 0.01; in both cases). The control group showed a statistically significantly larger width of the anterior cruciate ligament (p < 0.05). A significant correlation between the width of the anterior cruciate ligament and the width (p < 0.01) and height (p < 0.05) of the intercondylar notch was found to exist in the control group, but not in the study group (p > 0.05). The patients in the control group showed a shorter but wider anterior cruciate ligament in comparison to their matched pairs. The control group of patients was also characterized by the correlation between the width of the intercondylar notch and the width of the anterior cruciate ligament, which was not the case in the study group. Conclusions. According to the results of our study we can say that a narrow intercondylar notch contains a proportionally thin anterior cruciate ligament, but we cannot say that this factor necessarily leads to rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament.


2022 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 230949902110696
Author(s):  
Necip GÜVEN ◽  
Sezai ÖZKAN ◽  
Tulin TURKOZU ◽  
Adem YOKUS ◽  
Cihan ADANAS ◽  
...  

Purpose Many factors in the etiology of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, predisposing factors related to knee morphology have also been reported. This study aimed to determine whether the Insall–Salvati (IS) index, which measures patella height, is a predisposing risk factor for ACL tears. Methods The IS index, patellar length (PL), and patellar tendon length (PTL) values of patients (study group) that underwent arthroscopic reconstruction for ACL tears obtained by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared with the index values in the preoperative MRIs of patients that underwent knee arthroscopy for reasons besides ACL tears. In addition, the anterior tibial translation (ATT) of both groups was also measured and compared on MRI images. The MRI findings of the subjects included in both study groups were arthroscopically confirmed. Results The mean ages of the study group (n = 120) and control group (n = 90) were 29.1 ± 8.2 years and 31.8 ± 9.8 years, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the study and control groups in terms of the PL and PTL values ( p = 0.016 and p = 0.001, respectively). The IS index was statistically significantly higher in the study group with ACL tears ( p = 0.009). The ATT was 8.61 ± 4.68 mm in the study group and 3.80 ± 1.92 mm in the control group. The ATT results of both groups were evaluated, and it was found that the study group was significantly higher than the control group ( p = 0.001) Conclusions As a result of our current study, we observed higher IS index values in patients with ACL tears than in patients without ACL tears. It should be kept in mind that patella alta, which is associated with a high IS index as one of the factors of knee morphology associated with ACL tears, may play a role in the etiology of ACL tears.


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohita R. Patel ◽  
Debra E. Hurwitz ◽  
Charles A. Bush-Joseph ◽  
Bernard R. Bach ◽  
Thomas P. Andriacchi

Background Whether passive measures of isokinetic muscle strength deficits and knee laxity are related to the dynamic function of the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee remains unclear. Hypotheses Arthrometer measurements are not predictive of peak external knee flexion moment (net quadriceps muscle moment), isokinetic quadriceps muscle strength correlates with peak external knee flexion moment (net quadriceps muscle moment), and isokinetic hamstring muscle strength correlates with peak external knee extension moment (net flexor muscle moment). Study Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Gait analysis was used to assess dynamic function during walking, jogging, and stair climbing in 44 subjects with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and 44 control subjects. Passive knee laxity and isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength were also measured. Results Arthrometer measurements did not correlate with peak external flexion or extension moments in any of the activities tested or with isokinetic quadriceps or hamstring muscle strength. Test subjects also had a significantly reduced peak external flexion moment during all three jogging activities and stair climbing compared with the control subjects and this was correlated with significantly reduced quadriceps muscle strength. Conclusions Absolute knee laxity difference did not correlate with dynamic knee function as assessed by gait analysis and should not be used as a sole predictor for the outcome of treatment. Patients with greater than normal strength in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient limb performed low- and high-stress activities in a more normal fashion than those with normal or less-than-normal strength.


2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (12) ◽  
pp. 2154-2164
Author(s):  
Kazandra Rodriguez ◽  
Steven A Garcia ◽  
Cathie Spino ◽  
Lindsey K Lepley ◽  
Yuxi Pang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Restoring quadriceps muscle strength following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) may prevent the posttraumatic osteoarthritis that affects over 50% of knees with ACLR. However, a fundamental gap exists in our understanding of how to maximize muscle strength through rehabilitation. Neurological deficits and muscle atrophy are 2 of the leading mechanisms of muscle weakness after ACLR. High-intensity neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and eccentric exercise (ECC) have been shown to independently target these mechanisms. If delivered in succession, NMES and then ECC may be able to significantly improve strength recovery. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ability of NMES combined with ECC to restore quadriceps strength and biomechanical symmetry and maintain cartilage health at 9 and 18 months after ACLR. Methods This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center clinical trial conducted at the University of Michigan. A total of 112 participants between the ages of 14 and 45 years and with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture will be included. Participants will be randomly assigned 1:1 to NMES combined with ECC or NMES placebo combined with ECC placebo. NMES or NMES placebo will be delivered 2 times per week for 8 weeks beginning 10 to 14 days postoperatively and will be directly followed by 8 weeks of ECC or ECC placebo delivered 2 times per week. The co-primary endpoints are change from baseline to 9 months and change from baseline to 18 months after ACLR in isokinetic quadriceps strength symmetry. Secondary outcome measures include isometric quadriceps strength, quadriceps activation, quadriceps muscle morphology (cross-sectional area), knee biomechanics (sagittal plane knee angles and moments), indexes of patient-reported function, and cartilage health (T1ρ and T2 relaxation time mapping on magnetic resonance imaging). Impact The findings from this study might identify an intervention capable of targeting the lingering quadriceps weakness after ACLR and in turn prevent deterioration in cartilage health after ACLR, thereby potentially improving function in this patient population.


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