Abstract:
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury leads to knee stability deficiency, knee proprioceptive impairment and abnormal knee movement pattern due to impairment of neuromuscular control. The ACL reconstruction is a surgery for treat patient with ACL complete tear. Although the patient had undergone ACL reconstruction, problems related to knee proprioceptive sense and neuromuscular control could be found. The purpose of this study was to examine knee muscular performance and knee proprioception in patient with ACL reconstruction pre-operative and post-operative at 3 months. Methods: The study was a prospective study. Twelve participants who were undergone ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon mean age 25.75 ± 8.56 years old. All Participants were assessed knee proprioceptive sense by joint position sense using isokinetic dynamometer at 15 and 60 degrees of knee flexion as the target angle. Testing was performed 3 times in each target angle, mean error angle was evaluated. Knee muscular performance was examined by single leg squat test (SLS) with two-dimensional motion analysis in frontal and sagittal planes, all participants performed 5 times. Mean angle moments of knee flexion, knee valgus, hip flexion and hip abduction were analyzed. Results: Mean absolute error angle at 15 degrees target angle was significant lower at preoperative than those at 3 months after ACL reconstruction (p=0.04) and significant differences between injured knee and uninjured knee at postoperative were found. The SLS test showed significant difference of knee flexion angle of injured knee between preoperative and 3 months after ACL reconstruction. (p=0.01). Low to moderate correlation was found between SLS performance and IKDC score. Conclusion: Knee muscles performance and knee proprioceptive sense at the end range should be considered for ACL rehabilitation including uninvolved leg. In addition, SLS test would be concerned as a tool for determine patients ability to return to previous activity level.
Thammasat University. Thammasat University Library