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Analysis of Lower Extremity Proprioception for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention: Current Opinion

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Abstract

Lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries—such as ACL injury—are common, and the majority of those injuries occur without external player contact. In order to prevent non-contact musculoskeletal injuries, athletes must rely on accurate sensory information (such as visual, vestibular, and somatosensory) and stabilize joints during athletic tasks. Previously, proprioception tests (the senses of joint position, movement, tension or force) have been examined using static tests. Due to the role of proprioception in achievement of joint stability, it is essential to explore the development of dynamic proprioception tests. In this current opinion, the basic background on proprioception is covered, and the research gaps and future directions are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Takashi Nagai, Nathan D. Schilaty & Timothy E. Hewett

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Timothy E. Hewett

  3. Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Nathan D. Schilaty & Timothy E. Hewett

  4. Sports Medicine Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Takashi Nagai, Nathan D. Schilaty, Jeffrey D. Strauss, Eric M. Crowley & Timothy E. Hewett

  5. Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA

    Timothy E. Hewett

  6. Biomechanics Laboratories, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Takashi Nagai, Nathan D. Schilaty, Jeffrey D. Strauss, Eric M. Crowley & Timothy E. Hewett

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  1. Takashi Nagai
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  2. Nathan D. Schilaty
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  5. Timothy E. Hewett
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Correspondence to Nathan D. Schilaty.

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Funding

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: R01AR056259 and R01AR055563 to TEH and L30AR070273 to NDS, and from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: K12HD065987 to NDS.

Conflicts of Interest

Takashi Nagai, Nathan Schilaty, Jeffrey Strauss, Eric Crowley, and Timothy Hewett declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

Additional information

Takashi Nagai and Nathan D. Schilaty are co-primary authors.

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Nagai, T., Schilaty, N.D., Strauss, J.D. et al. Analysis of Lower Extremity Proprioception for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention: Current Opinion. Sports Med 48, 1303–1309 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0889-1

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