Deficit in knee extension strength following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is explained by a reduced neural drive to the vasti muscles

The persistence of quadriceps weakness represents a major concern following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The underlying adaptations occurring in the activity of spinal motoneurons are still unexplored. This study examined the discharge patterns of large populations of motor unit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of physiology 2021-11, Vol.599 (22), p.5103-5120
Main Authors: Nuccio, Stefano, Del Vecchio, Alessandro, Casolo, Andrea, Labanca, Luciana, Rocchi, Jacopo Emanuele, Felici, Francesco, Macaluso, Andrea, Mariani, Pier Paolo, Falla, Deborah, Farina, Dario, Sbriccoli, Paola
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACL reconstruction
Adaptation
Anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
discharge rate
Electromyography
high‐density electromyography
Humans
Knee
Knee Joint
Ligaments
Motor neurons
motor unit
Motor units
Muscle contraction
Muscle Strength
neural impairment
Quadriceps Muscle
quadriceps weakness
Rehabilitation
Sensory neurons
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Summary:The persistence of quadriceps weakness represents a major concern following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The underlying adaptations occurring in the activity of spinal motoneurons are still unexplored. This study examined the discharge patterns of large populations of motor units (MUs) in the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis muscles following ACLR. Nine ACLR individuals and 10 controls performed unilateral trapezoidal contractions of the knee extensor muscles at 35%, 50% and 70% of the maximal voluntary isometric force (MVIF). High‐density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) was used to record the myoelectrical activity of the vasti muscles in both limbs. HDsEMG signals were decomposed with a convolutive blind source separation method and MU properties were extracted and compared between sides and groups. The ACLR group showed a lower MVIF on the reconstructed side compared to the contralateral side (28.1%; P 
ISSN:0022-3751
1469-7793
DOI:10.1113/JP282014