Knee

BACKGROUND: The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is commonly implemented to selectively improve eccentric knee-flexor strength. However, the standard version of the exercise (leveled shanks, extended hip joint) is too strenuous for most individuals, whose muscle activity rapidly decreases at extended knee angles. Hitherto, a gradual approach to the exercise has been missing. In this exploratory case study, we investigated elite performance to introduce a stepwise progression to the NHE...

Anterior knee pain (AKP) is one of the most common conditions to bring active young patients to a sports injury clinic. It is a heterogeneous condition related to multiple causative factors. Compared to the general population, there appears to be a higher risk of development of patellofemoral osteoarthritis in patients with AKP. AKP can be detrimental to the patient's quality of life and, in the larger context, significantly burdens the economy with high healthcare costs. This study aims to present a comprehensive evaluation of AKP to improve clinical daily practice...

UNLABELLED: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and surgical intervention in the pediatric population have increased in the recent years. Although surgical techniques have advanced, evidence-based rehabilitation guidelines that consider all aspects of the youth athlete are currently lacking. The purpose of this commentary is to review the current evidence on unique considerations for the pediatric and adolescent population during rehabilitation and return to sport after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), with a focus on children under 18 years of age...

CONTEXT: Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is challenging for adolescent patients concurrently experiencing growth and development, changes in attitudes and social interactions, and a gradual shift toward independence. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of information sharing and interpersonal communication among adolescent patients going through ACLR, their parents, and physical therapist (PT) treating adolescent patients with ACLR...

Clinical evaluation and management of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most widely researched topics in orthopedic sports medicine, giving providers ample data on which to base their practices. The ACL is also the most commonly treated knee ligament. This study reports on current topics and research in clinical management of ACL injury, starting with evaluation, operative versus nonoperative management, and considerations in unique populations. Discussion of graft selection and associated procedures follows...

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow contusions are common after an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. It is unknown whether the severity of this initial bruise can predict the potential of developing chondral changes even after ACL reconstructive surgery (ACLR). PURPOSE: To investigate whether the initial bone bruise area could be predictive of progressive chondral defects. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed to capture patients with an acute ACL injury with pre- and post-ACLR magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between January 2000 and December 2017...

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STUDY DESIGN: Comprehensive review and meta-analysis. BACKGROUND: The recovery in rapid force production measured as the rate of force development (RFD) is not clear after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate (a) time-course change of between-limb asymmetries in isometric knee extension/flexion RFD in individuals post-ACLR and (b) differences in RFD between individuals post-ACLR and healthy controls. METHODS: A literature search of Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PubMed-MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect identified 10 eligible studies (n = 246) assessing RFD after ACLR...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of conventional (constant load) eccentric training and isokinetic eccentric training on quadriceps muscle mass, strength and functional performance in recreational athletes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Thirty recreational male athletes (25 years old) undergoing ACL reconstruction received a standard rehabilitation program. Volunteers were randomized to conventional group (CG; n = 15) or isokinetic group (IG; n = 15) to be engaged in a 6-week (2 sessions/week) quadriceps eccentric training program at the extensor chair or at the isokinetic dynamometer, respectively...

BACKGROUND: Many studies have investigated factors that predict a return to sport participation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, but it is unclear whether the same factors are associated with a return to preinjury level of sport performance. PURPOSE: To identify factors that contribute to an athlete's return to preinjury level of performance after ACL reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: A cohort of 222 patients (132 male, 90 female) who had ACL reconstruction surgery and completed a 12-month postoperative assessment were followed out to a mean 3 years (range, 2-4 years) to determine whether they had returned to their self-reported preinjury levels of sport performance...

BACKGROUND: The incidence of meniscocapsular junction tears of the medial meniscus posterior horn, known as ramp lesions , is reported to be 9.3% to 23.9%. However, these lesions are not consistently diagnosed with routine arthroscopic exploration and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PURPOSE: To determine risk factors associated with ramp lesions in anterior cruciate ligament-injured knees. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3...

OBJECTIVE: Examine the comfort and pain experienced with blow flow restriction resistance training (BFR-RT) compared to standard care heavy load resistance training (HL-RT) during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) patient rehabilitation. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: United Kingdom National Health Service. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty eight patients undergoing unilateral ACLR surgery with hamstring autograft were recruited...

BACKGROUND: We implemented a blood flow restriction resistance training (BFR-RT) intervention during an 8-week rehabilitation programme in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) patients within a National Health Service setting. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of BFR-RT and standard-care traditional heavy-load resistance training (HL-RT) at improving skeletal muscle hypertrophy and strength, physical function, pain and effusion in ACLR patients following surgery...

BACKGROUND: Knee brace has been commonly used as a device to protect the graft after reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Studies have focused on the effects of braces after ACL reconstruction, and controversial results were reported. The current meta-analysis was conducted to identify whether knee braces could provide superior clinical outcomes on knee functional scores and stability evaluations. HYPOTHESIS: Knee braces could not provide superior clinical outcomes on knee functional scores and stability evaluations...

BACKGROUND: Outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are not uniformly good and are worse among young female athletes. Developing better rehabilitation and return-to-sport training programs and evaluating their outcomes are essential. PURPOSE: (1) Test the effect of strength, agility, plyometric, and secondary prevention (SAPP) exercises with and without perturbation training (SAPP + PERT) on strength, hops, function, activity levels, and return-to-sport rates in young female athletes 1 and 2 years after ACLR and (2) compare 2-year functional outcomes and activity levels among young female athletes in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Specialized Post-Operative Return-to-Sports (ACL-SPORTS) trial to homogeneous cohorts who completed criterion-based postoperative rehabilitation alone (Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network [MOON]) and in combination with extended preoperative rehabilitation (Delaware-Oslo)...

BACKGROUND: A return to running after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) is critical to the clinical success of any cutting and pivoting athlete who wishes to return to sport. Knowledge of specific alterations during running after ACL-R is required to optimise rehabilitation for improving outcomes and long-term disability. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to summarise kinematic, kinetic and muscle activation data during running after ACL-R and the intrinsic factors (e...

PURPOSE: To assess the percentage of patients achieving symmetrical knee function 6 months after primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) and to identify factors affecting its achievement, in a large cohort. METHODS: Data were extracted from our clinic database. Patients who underwent primary ACLR from 2000 to 2015 and were assessed with the isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring muscles strength tests and single-leg-hop test at the 6-month follow-up were included in the study...

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Herrington, L, Ghulam, H, and Comfort, P. Quadriceps strength and functional performance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in professional soccer players, at time of return to sport. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 769-775, 2021-Poor quadriceps strength has been associated with poor outcome after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). This study aims to assess quadriceps strength, muscle inhibition, and hop test performance in professional soccer players after ACLR. Fifteen professional soccer players (age 22...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.