Knee and ankle biomechanics during recovery from primary, secondary, and bilateral anterior cruciate ligament injuries: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common knee injuries with a known but vague association with secondary joint injuries. The extent to which these injuries are preventable remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the functional differences in knee and ankle dorsiflexion biomechanics with full loading on one leg and to understand whether it could be a key point as a progressive method in ACL reconstruction, considering both legs and three different groups.

DESIGN AND

SETTING

A quasi-experimental study of Medical Centers in an outpatient clinic in Portugal.

METHODS

The Y balance test (YBT) was used to evaluate and analyze the association between ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM) and knee flexion. DF-ROM and knee flexion were used to compare the deficits between the operated and uninvolved limbs in all three groups (ACL-I, ACL-II, and ACL-III).

RESULTS

Ankle DF-ROM and knee flexion assessed during the YBT were associated with higher knee flexion ROM, identifying individuals who were better prepared for the next phase of the guideline. The study results provide preliminary data for future studies that use prospective longitudinal research and involve large patient populations to establish prognostic biomechanical markers for determining long-term dynamic stability after ACL reconstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

In the three groups with a history of ACL injury, compensations and kinematic asymmetries in dorsal flexion and knee flexion were observed in the operated and control legs both at 6 and 8 weeks of treatment.