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Loss of neuromuscular control related to motion in the acutely ACL-injured knee: an experimental study

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Abstract

Ligamentomuscular and muscular stretch reflexes are known to contribute to knee joint stability. After anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, a more intense and adjusted muscular response is required to maintain joint stability, but this neuromuscular control of the knee has not been clearly proved. The aim of the study is to record electromyography (EMG) signal and muscular fibre length variations in quadriceps and hamstrings of the knee with and without ACL, and to analyze and integrate the ligament strain and the muscular reaction to forced anterior tibial translation (ATT). In 17 knees from 12 cats, EMG electrodes and ultrasonomicrometry crystals were inserted into four main periarticular muscles, with strain gauges on periarticular ligament insertions. Their output signal was compared before and after ACL surgical section in series of ATT (at 90° and 30° knee flexion), and also during knee flexion and extension. Linear regression analysis was performed between the EMG signal and muscular fibre length variations, and between the EMG signal and the strain on ligament insertions, in the search of this reflex neuromuscular response. In the ACL deficient knees, the studied muscles showed a poor adjustment to motion of EMG firing, inversely to controls. The muscle stretch reflexes showed poorer correlation with post-peak EMG activity than the ligaments. ATT control depended mainly on hamstrings activity in control knees, whereas in unstable knees, quadriceps activity was associated with more tibial translation. Acute ACL-deficient knees showed poor neuromuscular control with weak ligamentomuscular reflexes and no muscular stretch reflexes, suggesting the ineffectiveness of acute muscular reaction to provide early mechanical knee stabilization after injury.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported with a grant by F.I.S. (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias; 01/0371, Spain).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad de Ortopedia Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana, 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain

    N. Bonsfills

  2. Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Fundación “Jiménez Díaz”. Departamento de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    E. Gómez-Barrena

  3. Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    J. J. Raygoza

  4. Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    A. Núñez

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  1. N. Bonsfills
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  2. E. Gómez-Barrena
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  3. J. J. Raygoza
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  4. A. Núñez
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Correspondence to N. Bonsfills.

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Bonsfills, N., Gómez-Barrena, E., Raygoza, J.J. et al. Loss of neuromuscular control related to motion in the acutely ACL-injured knee: an experimental study. Eur J Appl Physiol 104, 567–577 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0729-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0729-3

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