Open AccessThe Anterior Cruciate Ligament Can Become Hypertrophied in Response to Mechanical Loading: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study in Elite Athletes
Author(s) -
Mélanie L. Beaulieu,
M Declercq,
Nathan Rietberg,
Sylvia H. Li,
Emily C. Harker,
Alexander E. Weber,
James A. AshtonMiller,
Edward M. Wojtys
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the american journal of sports medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.021
H-Index - 221
eISSN - 1552-3365
pISSN - 0363-5465
DOI - 10.1177/03635465211012354
Subject(s) - medicine , anterior cruciate ligament , isometric exercise , athletes , magnetic resonance imaging , sagittal plane , patellar tendon , muscle hypertrophy , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , orthodontics , anatomy , radiology
Evidence, mainly from animal models, suggests that exercise during periods of pubertal growth can produce a hypertrophied anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and improve its mechanical properties. In humans, the only evidence of ACL hypertrophy comes from a small cross-sectional study of elite weight lifters and control participants; that study had methodological weaknesses and, thus, more evidence is needed.