Quadriceps strength and corticospinal excitability as predictors of disability after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Brian G. Pietrosimone, Adam S. Lepley, Hayley M. Ericksen, Phillip A. Gribble, Jason Levine

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

102 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Disability is common in a proportion of patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R). Neuromuscular quadriceps deficits are a hallmark impairment after ACL-R, yet the link between muscle function and disability is not understood. Purposes: To evaluate the ability of quadriceps strength and cortical excitability to predict self-reported disability in patients with ACL-R. Methods: Fifteen participants with a history of ACL-R (11 female, 4 male; 172 ± 9.8 cm, 70.4 ± 17.5 kg, 54.4 ± 40.9 mo postsurgery) were included in this study. Corticospinal excitability was assessed using active motor thresholds (AMT), while strength was assessed with maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC). Both voluntary strength and corticospinal excitability were used to predict disability measured with the International Knee Documentation Committee Index (IKDC). Results: The overall multiple-regression model significantly predicted 66% of the variance in self-reported disability as measured by the IKDC index (R2 =.66, P =.01). Initial imputation of MVIC into the model accounted for 61% (R2 =.61, P =.01) of the variance in IKDC. The subsequent addition of AMT into the model accounted for an insignificant increase of 5% (Δ R2 =.05, P =.19) in the prediction capability of the model. Conclusions: Quadriceps voluntary strength and cortical excitability predicted twothirds of the variance in disability of patients with ACL-R, with strength accounting for virtually all of the predictive capability of the model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Sport Rehabilitation
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2013

Keywords

  • Knee
  • Maximal contraction
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation

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