Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common injuries among athletes that lead to postural control disorders. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of balance training with and without cognitive task and external focus of attention on postural control in individuals with ACL reconstruction. Sixty participants with ACL reconstruction, between the ages of 18 and 47 will be randomly allocated to three group’s including routine balance training, balance training with external focus of attention. Patients will be assessed at the baseline, after receiving eight weeks of intervention, and four weeks later. A double-blinded design will be used. Center of pressure data acquired from a forceplate will be used to assess amount and velocity of sway, local dynamical stability, and global stability of upright balance. Also, dynamic balance will be assessed using Star Excursion balance test. The results of this research will be used to establish effectiveness of treatment strategies for postural control in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The suggested interventions would be clinically applicable in the athlete with ACL injury.
Background: The current study aimed to evaluate the postural control in patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction pre and post wearing functional knee brace. Methods: Eighteen athletes undergone unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction included in the study. They had unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at least six months before session test. Postural control was assessed pre and post wearing custom-fit functional knee brace using a posturographic platform prokin 254. The balance tests included: 1) standing on prokin platform with eyes open/closed on anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction limb, 2) standing on prokin platform with eyes open/closed on both limbs. The standard deviation (SD) of body sway along the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) axis, mean velocity of center of pressure (COP) along AP/ ML axis and the area ellipse (measured in 2 mm) were calculated. Results: Results of the paired T-test revealed a significant effect on selected postural control variables for the brace conditions especially in low challengeable conditions (double leg, eyes open test situations) (P < 0.05). But in high challengeable conditions this effect was not significant. Conclusions: Functional knee brace improved postural control in the simple balancing task in the subjects with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. But this improvement in more difficult balancing task was limited.
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