Relationship between quadriceps femoris muscle volume and muscle torque after anterior cruciate ligament rupture

Abstract

This study demonstrated that the values of the muscle torque per unit volume of both injured and uninjured sides of patients with ACL rupture were significantly lower than those of the control group, thereby providing indirect evidence of the hindrance of motor unit recruitment in these patients. The results of the present study also indicate that there may be bilateral QF weakness in patients with ACL rupture. Since persistent QF weakness is a significant barrier to effective rehabilitation in patients with ACL injuries, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms will allow clinicians and scientists to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for patient rehabilitation.

Mapping current research trends on neuromuscular risk factors of non-contact ACL injury

“…ACL-D subjects showed a deficit of the peak quadriceps torque in both isometric testing in males (Urbach, et al, 2001) and isokinetic testing (Konishi, et al, 2011;Tsepis, et al, 2004) in males and females. Another study found quadriceps and hamstring deficits for isometric and isokinetic tests in male and females (Hsiao, et al, 2014).…”

“…Clear and often long-term reductions in muscular capacity were found for quadriceps muscles in ACL-D (Hsiao, et al, 2014;Konishi, et al, 2011;Tsepis, et al, 2004;Urbach, et al, 2001) and ACL-R (Drechsler, et al, 2006;Hsiao, et al, 2014;Xergia, et al, 2013) patients compared to healthy controls suggesting substantial consequences of post-injury inactivity, detrimental effects of kinesiofobia (Drechsler, et al, 2006), autograft repair (Hiemstra, Webber, MacDonald, & Kriellaars, 2004), and potentially lack of rehabilitation compliance. These considerable changes in muscular capacity and likely alterations in muscular activation patterns altogether suggest that risk of re-injury is based on very different factors than risk of primary injury.…”

“…Five case-control studies analyzed deficits in muscular capacity in ACL-D subjects compared to healthy controls (Hsiao, Chou, Hsu, & Lue, 2014;Konishi, et al, 2011;Swanik, Lephart, Swanik, Stone, & Fu, 2004;Tsepis, Vagenas, Giakas, & Georgoulis, 2004;Urbach, Nebelung, Becker, & Awiszus, 2001). ACL-D subjects showed a deficit of the peak quadriceps torque in both isometric testing in males (Urbach, et al, 2001) and isokinetic testing (Konishi, et al, 2011;Tsepis, et al, 2004) in males and females.…”

“…Hamstrings showed slight though non-significant improvement in the isokinetic force production continuing through-out the 6-month follow-up period (Konishi, et al, 2011) 22 ACLD (11 Males & 11 Women) 24.7 ± 5.3 years 10 competitive, 10 recreational and 2 occasional sports participation) 22 Healthy Controls (13 Males & 9 Women) 24.3 ± 5.7 years Various levels of sports activity were reported…”

Responsiveness of Muscle Tone Characteristics to Progressive Force Production

“…Furthermore, an additional advantage is that these technologies are portable, relatively inexpensive, and require minimal training and can therefore conveniently be used in rehabilitation and in the field by sport medicine practitioners. For instance, injuries and operations frequently result in weakness and inactivity in certain muscles, such as knee injuries in quadriceps muscle (7,16). Stiffness-compliance measures can then be used to evaluate the activation level in different parts of quadriceps muscle during exercises to teach the subject to activate muscles properly.…”