Proprioceptive and behavior impairments in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed knees.

OBJECTIVE

To assess sensory deficits and their effects on proprioceptive and motor function in patients who had undergone unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

DESIGN

Four evaluations were conducted: (1) joint position perception of the knee for predetermined angles (0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees ); (2) threshold for detection of passive knee motion at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees moving into flexion and at 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees moving into extension; (3) latency onset of hamstring muscles; and (4) postural control during upright double- and single-leg stance.

SETTING

Movement laboratory in Brazil.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten participants who had surgical reconstruction of the ACL (reconstructed group) and 10 participants without knee injury (control group).

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute error, angular displacement, hamstring muscles latency, and mean sway amplitude.

RESULTS

Individuals with a reconstructed knee showed decreased joint position perception, a higher threshold for detection of passive knee motion, longer latency of hamstring muscles, and decreased performance in postural control.

CONCLUSIONS

After lesion and ACL reconstruction, sensory and motor behavior changes were still observed. This may be because of the lack of proprioceptive information resulting from the ACL lesion and/or substitution of ACL by the graft.