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Biomechanical Deficiencies in Women with Semitendinosus‐Gracilis Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction During Drop Jumps
Author(s) -
Ortiz Alexis,
CapoLugo Carmen E.,
VenegasRios Heidi L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2014.07.003
Subject(s) - anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction , valgus , anterior cruciate ligament , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , kinematics , rehabilitation , biomechanics , orthodontics , jump , physical therapy , knee flexion , jumping , drop (telecommunication) , electromyography , vertical jump , acl injury , surgery , anatomy , computer science , physiology , telecommunications , physics , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics
Objective To compare landing mechanics and neuromuscular recruitment strategies between women with semitendinosus‐gracilis anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (SG‐ACLr) and noninjured women during double‐ and single‐legged drop jumps. Design Cross‐sectional biomechanical study. Setting Single university‐based biomechanics laboratory. Participants Fourteen women 1‐5 years post–SG‐ACLr and 16 noninjured women participated in this study. Methods After anthropometric measurements, warm‐up, and familiarization procedures, participants performed 5 trials of a double‐ and single‐legged drop jumps. Main Outcome Measurements Dynamic knee valgus was measured as the distance between knee joints during the landing phase of the double‐leg drop jumps. Medial knee displacement was the outcome considered during the landing phase of the single‐leg drop jumps. For both drop jump tasks, neuromuscular recruitment was evaluated through rectified normalized electromyographic activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings (amplitude and latency), and quadriceps/hamstrings electromyographic co‐contraction ratio. Results Although the SG‐ACLr group demonstrated a tendency toward a greater dynamic knee valgus during both drop jumps, these differences did not reach statistical significance. EMG data revealed different neuromuscular strategies for each group, depending on the specific jump. Conclusions These findings suggest that women with SG‐ACLr have a tendency toward greater dynamic knee valgus that could predispose to additional knee injuries. Rehabilitation specialists need to be aware of existing kinematic and neuromuscular deficiencies years after SG‐ACLr. Taking this into consideration will aid in prescribing appropriate interventions designed to prevent re‐injury.