Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(06): 550-558
DOI: 10.1055/a-1292-4461
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

Impaired Regulation of Submaximal Force after ACL Reconstruction: Role of Muscle Spindles

David Rice
1   Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
2   Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
,
1   Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Peter McNair
1   Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
› Institutsangaben

Abstract

Ongoing motor deficits are routinely present following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, including the ability to regulate muscle force. While such deficits are known, it is unclear why this occurs. The goal of the current study was to investigate the potential influence of muscle spindle input on submaximal force regulation and muscle activity at the knee in people following ACL reconstruction. Fourteen participants (8 female) who were 6−24 months post-ACL reconstruction and 15 control participants (8 female) undertook submaximal force matching and force modulation tasks before and after 20 min of vibration applied to the patella tendon. Across all tasks, the ACL reconstruction participants were poorer at force matching (P=0.007). The effect of vibration was not significant in either group for the force matching tasks (P=0.06), although there was a reduction in maximum voluntary contraction post-vibration in the control group (P<0.001). The ACL reconstruction group also showed evidence of greater activation of the medial hamstring muscles in comparison to controls (P=0.04). Individuals who have undergone ACL reconstruction have a diminished ability to accurately match and regulate submaximal muscle force, but this does not appear to be related to impaired muscle spindle input. Neuromuscular retraining programs that involve force regulation tasks may be necessary to optimize rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction.



Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 21. April 2020

Angenommen: 12. Oktober 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
11. November 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
  • References

  • 1 Risberg MA, Holm I, Tjomsland O. et al. Prospective study of changes in impairments and disabilities after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1999; 29: 400-412
  • 2 Hoffman M, Koceja DM. Hoffmann reflex profiles and strength ratios in postoperative anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction patients. Int J Neurosci 2000; 104: 17-27
  • 3 Holder-Powell HM, Di Matteo G, Rutherford OM. Do knee injuries have long-term consequences for isometric and dynamic muscle strength?. Eur J Appl Physiol 2001; 85: 310-316
  • 4 Keays SL, Bullock-Saxton JE, Newcombe P. et al. The relationship between knee strength and functional stability before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Orthop Res 2003; 21: 231-237
  • 5 Lee DH, Lee JH, Jeong HJ. et al. Serial changes in knee muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendon autografts. Arthroscopy 2015; 31: 890-895
  • 6 Wojtys EM, Huston LJ. Longitudinal effects of anterior cruciate ligament injury and patellar tendon autograft reconstruction on neuromuscular performance. Am J Sports Med 2000; 28: 336-344
  • 7 Angelozzi M, Madama M, Corsica C. et al. Rate of force development as an adjunctive outcome measure for return-to-sport decisions after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012; 42: 772-780
  • 8 Larsen JB, Farup J, Lind M. et al. Muscle strength and functional performance is markedly impaired at the recommended time point for sport return after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in recreational athletes. Hum Mov Sci 2015; 39: 73-87
  • 9 Pamukoff DN, Pietrosimone BG, Ryan ED. et al. Quadriceps function and hamstrings co-activation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Athl Train 2017; 52: 422-428
  • 10 Perraton L, Clark R, Crossley K. et al. Impaired voluntary quadriceps force control following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: relationship with knee function. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2017; 25: 1424-1431
  • 11 Xergia SA, McClelland JA, Kvist J. et al. The influence of graft choice on isokinetic muscle strength 4–24 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2011; 19: 768-780
  • 12 Petersen W, Taheri P, Forkel P. et al. Return to play following ACL reconstruction: A systematic review about strength deficits. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2014; 134: 1417-1428
  • 13 Seto JL, Orofino AS, Morrissey MC. et al. Assessment of quadriceps/hamstring strength, knee ligament stability, functional and sports activity levels five years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 1988; 16: 170-180
  • 14 Goetschius J, Kuenze CM, Hart JM. Knee extension torque variability after exercise in ACL reconstructed knees. J Orthop Res 2015; 33: 1165-1170
  • 15 Goetschius J, Hart JM. Knee-extension torque variability and subjective knee function in patients with a history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Athl Train 2016; 51: 22-27
  • 16 Pua Y-H, Ong P-H, Ho J-Y. et al. Associations of isokinetic knee steadiness with hop performance in patients with ACL deficiency. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2015; 23: 2185-2195
  • 17 Bryant AL, Pua YH, Clark RA. Morphology of knee extension torque-time curves following anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2009; 91: 1424-1431
  • 18 Tsepis E, Giakas G, Vagenas G. et al. Frequency content asymmetry of the isokinetic curve between ACL deficient and healthy knee. J Biomech 2004; 37: 857-864
  • 19 Telianidis S, Perraton L, Clark RA. et al. Diminished sub-maximal quadriceps force control in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed patients is related to quadriceps and hamstring muscle dyskinesia. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2014; 24: 513-519
  • 20 Bryant AL, Clark RA, Pua Y-H. Morphology of hamstring torque-time curves following ACL injury and reconstruction: mechanisms and implications. J Orthop Res 2011; 29: 907-914
  • 21 San Martín-Mohr C, Cristi-Sánchez I, Pincheira PA. et al. Knee sensorimotor control following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A comparison between reconstruction techniques. PLoS One 2018; 13: e0205658
  • 22 Niederer D, Kalo K, Vogel J. et al. Quadriceps torque, peak variability and strength endurance in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Impact of local muscle fatigue. J Mot Behav 2020; 52: 22-32
  • 23 Rice DA, McNair PJ. Quadriceps arthrogenic muscle inhibition: Neural mechanisms and treatment perspectives. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2010; 40: 250-266
  • 24 Relph N, Herrington L, Tyson S. The effects of ACL injury on knee proprioception: a meta-analysis. Physiotherapy 2014; 100: 187-195
  • 25 Héroux ME, Tremblay F. Weight discrimination after anterior cruciate ligament injury: A pilot study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005; 86: 1362-1368
  • 26 Vallbo AB. Human muscle spindle discharge during isometric voluntary contractions. Amplitude relations between spindle frequency and torque. Acta Physiol Scand 1974; 90: 319-336
  • 27 Burke D, Skuse NF, Stuart DG. The regularity of muscle spindle discharge in man. J Physiol 1979; 291: 277-290
  • 28 Edin BB, Vallbo AB. Muscle afferent responses to isometric contractions and relaxations in humans. J Neurophysiol 1990; 63: 1307-1313
  • 29 Hagbarth KE, Kunesch EJ, Nordin M. et al. Gamma loop contributing to maximal voluntary contractions in man. J Physiol 1986; 380: 575-591
  • 30 Grande G, Cafarelli E. Ia Afferent input alters the recruitment thresholds and firing rates of single human motor units. Exp Brain Res 2003; 150: 449-457
  • 31 Bongiovanni LG, Hagbarth KE, Stjernberg L. Prolonged muscle vibration reducing motor output in maximal voluntary contractions in man. J Physiol 1990; 423: 15-26
  • 32 Kouzaki M, Shinohara M, Fukunaga T. Decrease in maximal voluntary contraction by tonic vibration applied to a single synergist muscle in humans. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2000; 89: 1420-1424
  • 33 Konishi Y, Fukubayashi T, Takeshita D. Mechanism of quadriceps femoris muscle weakness in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2002; 12: 371-375
  • 34 Jackson SW, Turner DL. Prolonged muscle vibration reduces maximal voluntary knee extension performance in both the ipsilateral and the contralateral limb in man. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 88: 380-386
  • 35 Richardson MS, Cramer JT, Bemben DA. et al. Effects of age and ACL reconstruction on quadriceps gamma loop function. J Geriatr Phys Ther 2006; 29: 28-34
  • 36 Rice DA, McNair PJ, Lewis GN. Mechanisms of quadriceps muscle weakness in knee joint osteoarthritis: the effects of prolonged vibration on torque and muscle activation in osteoarthritic and healthy control subjects. Arthritis Res Ther 2011; 13: R151
  • 37 Konishi Y, Konishi H, Fukubayashi T. Gamma loop dysfunction in quadriceps on the contralateral side in patients with ruptured ACL. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003; 35: 897-900
  • 38 Konishi Y, Aihara Y, Sakai M. et al. Gamma loop dysfunction in the quadriceps femoris of patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction remains bilaterally. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2007; 17: 393-399
  • 39 Carroll TJ, Taylor JL, Gandevia SC. Recovery of central and peripheral neuromuscular fatigue after exercise. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2017; 122: 1068-1076
  • 40 Harriss DJ, MacSween A, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2020 update. Int J Sports Med 2019; 40: 813-817
  • 41 Kollock RO, Onate JA, Van Lunen B. The reliability of portable fixed dynamometry during hip and knee strength assessments. J Athl Train 2010; 45: 349-356
  • 42 Toonstra J, Mattacola CG. Test-retest reliability and validity of isometric knee-flexion and -extension measurement using 3 methods of assessing muscle strength. J Sport Rehabil 2013; 22: 10.1123/jsr.2013.TR7
  • 43 Fransen M, Crosbie J, Edmonds J. Isometric muscle force measurement for clinicians treating patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 49: 29-35
  • 44 Konishi Y, Fukubayashi TT, Possible D. mechanism of quadriceps femoris weakness in patients with ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 1414-1418
  • 45 Merletti R, Farina D, Gazzoni M. et al. Surface electromyography: a window on the muscle, a glimpse on the central nervous system. Europa Medicophysica 2001; 37: 57-68
  • 46 Caldwell LS, Chaffin DB, Dukes-Dobos FN. et al. A proposed standard procedure for static muscle strength testing. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1974; 35: 201-206
  • 47 Chaffin DB. Ergonomics guide for the assessment of human static strength. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1975; 36: 505-511
  • 48 Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM. et al. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 3-13
  • 49 Skurvydas A, Masiulis N, Gudas R. et al. Extension and flexion torque variability in ACL deficiency. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2011; 19: 1307-1313
  • 50 Schutte MJ, Dabezies EJ, Zimny ML. et al. Neural anatomy of the human anterior cruciate ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1987; 69: 243-247
  • 51 Johansson H, Sjolander P, Sojka P. Actions on gamma-motoneurones elicited by electrical stimulation of joint afferent fibres in the hind limb of the cat. J Physiol 1986; 375: 137-152
  • 52 Sjolander P, Johansson H, Djupsjobacka M. Spinal and supraspinal effects of activity in ligament afferents. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2002; 12: 167-176
  • 53 Alkjaer T, Simonsen EB, Jorgensen U. et al. Evaluation of the walking pattern in two types of patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency: copers and non-copers. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 301-308
  • 54 Hurd WJ, Snyder-Mackler L. Knee instability after acute ACL rupture affects movement patterns during the mid-stance phase of gait. J Orthop Res 2007; 25: 1369-1377
  • 55 Bryant AL, Creaby MW, Newton RU. et al. Dynamic restraint capacity of the hamstring muscles has important functional implications after anterior cruciate ligament injury and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008; 89: 2324-2331
  • 56 Schipplein OD, Andriacchi TP. Interaction between active and passive knee stabilizers during level walking. J Orthop Res 1991; 9: 113-119
  • 57 Lloyd DG, Buchanan TS. Strategies of muscular support of varus and valgus isometric loads at the human knee. J Biomech 2001; 34: 1257-1267
  • 58 Hodges PW, van den Hoorn W, Wrigley TV. et al. Increased duration of co-contraction of medial knee muscles is associated with greater progression of knee osteoarthritis. Man Ther 2016; 21: 151-158
  • 59 Ribot-Ciscar E, Rossi-Durand C, Roll JP. Muscle spindle activity following muscle tendon vibration in man. Neurosci Lett 1998; 258: 147-150
  • 60 Ushiyama J, Masani K, Kouzaki M. et al. Difference in aftereffects following prolonged Achilles tendon vibration on muscle activity during maximal voluntary contraction among plantar flexor synergists. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2005; 98: 1427-1433
  • 61 Tucker K, Butler J, Graven-Nielsen T. et al. Motor unit recruitment strategies are altered during deep-tissue pain. J Neurosci 2009; 29: 10820-10826
  • 62 Webster KE, Feller JA, Whitehead TS. et al. Return to sport in the younger patient with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Orthop J Sports Med 2017; 5: 232596711770339
  • 63 Paterno MV, Flynn K, Thomas S. et al. Self-reported fear predicts functional performance and second ACL injury after ACL reconstruction and return to sport: A pilot study. Sports Health 2018; 10: 228-233
  • 64 Ramprasad M, Shenoy DS, Sandhu JS. et al. The influence of kinesiophobia on trunk muscle voluntary responses with pre-programmed reactions during perturbation in patients with chronic low back pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2011; 15: 485-495
  • 65 Lewis S, Holmes P, Woby S. et al. The relationships between measures of stature recovery, muscle activity and psychological factors in patients with chronic low back pain. Man Ther 2012; 17: 27-33
  • 66 Haddas R, Lieberman IH, Block A. The relationship between fear-avoidance and neuromuscular measures of function in patients with adult degenerative scoliosis. Spine 2018; 43: E1412-E1421
  • 67 Grooms D, Appelbaum G, Onate J. Neuroplasticity following anterior cruciate ligament injury: a framework for visual-motor training approaches in rehabilitation. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015; 45: 381-393