Study of proprioception and muscle strength following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Authors

  • Shankarlinga S. Department of Orthopaedics, K. S. Multispeciality Hospital, Koppal, Karnataka, India
  • Basavaraj S. Kyavater Department of Orthopaedics, K. S. Multispeciality Hospital, Koppal, Karnataka, India
  • Manik Rana Department of Orthopaedics, K. S. Multispeciality Hospital, Koppal, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4510.IntJResOrthop20211432

Keywords:

Anterior cruciate ligament, COM, Antero posterior, Proprioception

Abstract

Background: Mechanoreceptors plays a vital role in knee mechanics. Since there are controversies surrounding the overall recovery time of proprioception following surgery, it is necessary to define the factors affecting proprioceptive recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and to investigate the relationship between proprioception and muscle strength following surgery.

Methods: Current study is combined prospective and retrospective study done at K. S. hospital Koppal, spanning for a period of one year (December 2019 to December 2020). All patients presented with isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear were included in the study. Patients were treated by arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with hamstring graft only and followed up for a period of year. Outcome measures include centre of mass proprioception in AP and medio-lateral direction and muscular strength through force gauze in Newton.

Results: 26 patients (mean age 33) were included in the study, all ACL tears were treated by arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with hamstring graft and they underwent varying period of rehabilitation.

Conclusions: This study shows that our understanding of biomechanics of ACL reconstructed knees is still evolving, and proprioception is found to be a key factor in determining post-op recovery. ACL remnant preservation intra-op along with proper mechanical positioning of the graft may help in better proprioception and functional outcome following the reconstruction.

References

Johansson H. Role of knee ligaments in proprioception and regulation of muscle stiffness. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007;15:9-16.

Johansson H, Lorentzon R, Sjo¨ lander P, Sojka P. The anterior cruciate ligament. A sensor acting on the gamma muscle spindle systems of muscles around the knee joint. Neuro Orthop. 1990;9:1-23.

Johansson H, Sjolander P, Sojka P. Receptors in the knee joint ligaments and their role in the biomechanics of the joint. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 1991;18:341-68.

Johansson H, Sjolander P, Sojka P. A sensory role for

the cruciate ligaments. Clin Orthop. 1991;268:161-78.

Barrack RL, Skinner HB, Buckley SL. Proprioception in the anterior cruciate deficient knee. Am J Sports Med. 1989;17:1-6.

Corrigan JP, Cashman WF, Brady MP. Proprioception in the cruciate deficient knee. J Bone Joint Surg. 1992;74:247-50.

Barrett DS. Proprioception and function after anterior cruciate reconstruction. J Bone Joint Surg. 1991;73:833-7.

Brukner PD, Khan K. Clinical Sports Medicine, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill. 2001.

Swanik CB, Lephart SM, Giannantonio FP, Fu FH. Reestablishing proprioception and neuromuscular control in the ACL-injured athlete. J Sport Rehab. 1997;6:182-206.

Moritani T, DeVries HA. Neural factors versus hypertrophy in the time course of muscle strength gain. Am J Phys Rehabil. 1979:58:115-30.

Solomonow M, Barata R, Zhou BH. The synergistic actionof the anterior cruciate ligament and thigh muscles in maintaining joint stability. Am J Sports Med. 1987;15:207-13.

Osterning LR, Caster BL, James CR. Contralateral hamstring (biceps femoris) co-activation patterns and anterior cruciate ligament dysfunction. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;6:805-8.

Liu-Ambrose T, Taunton JE, MacIntyre D, McConkey P, Khan KM. The effects of proprio-ceptive or strength training on the neuromuscular function of the ACL reconstructed knee: A randomized clinical trial. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2003;13:115-23.

Bonfim TR, Jansen Paccola CA, Barela JA. Proprioceptive and behaviour impairments in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed knees. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 2003;84:1217-23.

Downloads

Published

2021-04-26

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles