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Neuroplasticity and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

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Abstract

Introduction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common, with a seemingly constant increase in their number, and potentially serious consequences for sports participation and long-term general and musculoskeletal health.

Areas of agreement

Most players are able to return to cutting sport after ACL reconstruction, but some sustain further knee problems needing different approach to their rehabilitation.

Growing points

Neurocognitive tasks, measuring reaction time, processing speed, visual memory and verbal memory, allow indirect assessment of cerebral performance. Situational awareness, arousal, and attentional resources may influence neurocognitive function, affecting the complex integration of vestibular, visual, and somatosensory information needed for neuromuscular control.

Areas of controversy

The underlying reasons for uncoordinated, high-velocity movements observed during non-contact injuries of the knee producing an ACL tear are not well understood. Fundamental neuropsychological characteristics are responsible for situational awareness, sensory integration, motor planning, and coordination, all of which control joint stiffness. There is a strong link between acquisition of motor skills and neuronal plasticity at cortical and subcortical levels in the central nervous system; these links may evolve over time and engage different spatially distributed interconnected brain regions. A cascade of neurophysiological alterations occurs after ACL injury.

Areas timely for developing research

Training can improve function; hence, rehabilitation programmes which include perturbation training, agility training, vision training and sport-specific skill training are essential after ACL injuries and for injury prevention, and to optimize return to play.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fysiotek Spine & Sports Lab, Athens, Greece

    George Kakavas

  2. Thessaloniki MSK Sports Medicine Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Nikolaos Malliaropoulos

  3. Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, London, UK

    Nikolaos Malliaropoulos & Nicola Maffulli

  4. FC Barcelona, FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, St Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain

    Ricard Pruna

  5. Carrick Institute of Neurology, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

    David Traster

  6. Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy

    Nicola Maffulli

  7. School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7QB, England, UK

    Nicola Maffulli

  8. Euromedica Arogi Rehabilitation Center, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Georgios Bikos

Authors
  1. George Kakavas
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  2. Nikolaos Malliaropoulos
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  3. Ricard Pruna
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  4. David Traster
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  6. Nicola Maffulli
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Correspondence to Nicola Maffulli.

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Kakavas, G., Malliaropoulos, N., Pruna, R. et al. Neuroplasticity and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury. JOIO 54, 275–280 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00045-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00045-2

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