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Effects of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on neuromuscular tensiomyographic characteristics of the lower extremity in competitive male soccer players

  • Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on mechanical and contractile properties of the skeletal muscles of the lower extremities in soccer players through tensiomyography (TMG).

Methods

All soccer players with acute ACL tear included underwent resting TMG assessment of muscles of both lower extremities before and 1 year after ACL reconstruction. The muscles assessed were vastus medialis (VM), vastus laterals (VL), rectus femoris (RF), semitendinosus (ST), biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), and gastrocnemius lateralis (GL). The TMG parameters obtained for each muscle were maximal displacement (D m), delay time (T d), contraction time (T c), sustained time (T s), and half-relaxation time (T r).

Results

The injured leg had a significant decrease in VL–T c, ST–T c, GM–T c, GL–T r, and GL–T d, and a significant increase in VM–T r and GM–T s in the postoperative compared to preoperative period. The non-injured leg demonstrated significant preoperative–postoperative changes in the VL, RF, and BF, but not in VM, ST, GM, and GL The magnitude of preoperative–postoperative differences in the injured leg was significantly higher in RF–T c, ST–T c, BF–D m, and GL–T r, but lower in RF–T r and GM–T s, compared to the non-injured leg. Both groups improved their symmetry between the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups in both sides.

Conclusions

The quadriceps muscles improved their resistance to fatigue and contraction velocity in both sides, and the hamstring muscles improved their contraction velocity and muscle tone in both sides as well. Improvements in contraction velocity and muscle tone were more evident in the quadriceps and hamstrings of the injured compared to the uninjured side. In addition, the intervention increased the percentage of symmetry between both sides in the TMG of the quadriceps muscles and the balance between ACL-agonist (hamstrings) and ACL-antagonist (quadriceps) muscle groups in both sides. This study shows how ACL reconstruction (and subsequent rehabilitation) can positively impact neuromuscular characteristics of the quadriceps and hamstrings.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic, Level II.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Department of Surgery at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. This manuscript was developed as part of a Doctorate Degree performed in this Department.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mutualidad de Futbolistas, Federación Española de Fútbol, Delegación Cataluña, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Alvarez-Diaz, Gilbert Steinbacher, Marta Rius & Ramon Cugat

  2. Fundación García-Cugat, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Alvarez-Diaz, Silvia Ramon, Roberto Seijas & Ramon Cugat

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital Quirón, Plaza Alfonso Comín 5-7, 08023, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Alvarez-Diaz, Roberto Seijas & Ramon Cugat

  4. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Alvarez-Diaz, Silvia Ramon & Roberto Seijas

  5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology. Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar & Hospital de l’Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain

    Eduard Alentorn-Geli

  6. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital Quirón, Barcelona, Spain

    Silvia Ramon & Miguel Marin

  7. Department of Surgery, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Ballester

Authors
  1. Pedro Alvarez-Diaz
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  2. Eduard Alentorn-Geli
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  3. Silvia Ramon
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  4. Miguel Marin
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  5. Gilbert Steinbacher
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  7. Roberto Seijas
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  8. Jordi Ballester
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  9. Ramon Cugat
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Correspondence to Pedro Alvarez-Diaz.

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Alvarez-Diaz, P., Alentorn-Geli, E., Ramon, S. et al. Effects of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on neuromuscular tensiomyographic characteristics of the lower extremity in competitive male soccer players. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 3407–3413 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3165-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3165-4

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