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Int J Sports Med 2001; 22(5): 385-391
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15790
Orthopedics and Clinical Science

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Is Proprioception Altered During Loaded Knee Extension Shortly After ACL Rupture?

T. Fischer-Rasmussen, T. Ø. Jensen, M. Kjær, M. Krogsgaard, P. Dyhre-Poulsen, S. P. Magnusson
  • 1 Sports Medicine Research Unit, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 2 The Faculty of Medical Science, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 3 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 4 The Institute of Medical Physiology, Panum Institute, Copenhagen University, Denmark
  • 5 Team Danmark Testcenter, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen. Denmark
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Knee joint angle reproduction was measured without loading of the quadriceps and during concentric quadriceps contractions at 20 % of maximal voluntary contraction. The threshold of movement detection was measured. The reproducibility of the methods and the effect of an acute ACL rupture < 10 wks post-injury were examined. A test-retest protocol with a 1 wk hiatus was conducted on 15 healthy subjects. Side-to-side differences were tested in 10 patients with acute ACL rupture. The test-retest protocol did not show any significant differences and yielded correlations of r = 0.7 - 0.9 (p < 0.01) and coefficients of variations of 5.7 - 13.0 %. No side-to-side differences were detected in the ACL subjects. Quadriceps loaded; injured 3.96 ± 2.21°, uninjured 4.7 ± 1.23°, unloaded; injured 2.85 ± 0.56°, uninjured 2.92 ± 1.20°. Threshold of movement detection; injured 1.48 ± 0.81°, uninjured 1.44 ± 0.65°. Therefore, it may be questioned if the ACL itself plays a major role in proprioception performance as it is commonly measured in the laboratory.

Key words:

Anterior cruciate ligament - proprioception.

References

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Torsten Fischer-Rasmussen,M.D. 

Sports Medicine Research Unit
Building 8
Bispebjerg Hospital

Bispebjerg Bakke 23
DK-2400 København NV
Denmark


Phone: Tel:+45 (35) 316090

Fax: Fax:+45 (35) 316097

Email: E-mail:t.fischer-r@dadlnet.dk

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