Effect of eccentric strengthening after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on quadriceps strength

Interventions aimed at safely overloading the quadriceps muscle after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are essential to reducing quadriceps muscle weakness that often persists long after the rehabilitation period. Despite the best efforts of clinicians and researchers to improve ACL r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sport rehabilitation 2013-05, Vol.22 (2), p.150-156
Main Authors: Lepley, Lindsey K, Palmieri-Smith, Riann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction - rehabilitation
Evidence-Based Medicine
Humans
Knee
Muscle Strength
Quadriceps Muscle - physiology
Resistance Training - methods
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Interventions aimed at safely overloading the quadriceps muscle after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are essential to reducing quadriceps muscle weakness that often persists long after the rehabilitation period. Despite the best efforts of clinicians and researchers to improve ACL rehabilitation techniques, a universally effective intervention to restore preinjury quadriceps strength has yet to be identified. A muscle's force-producing capacity is most optimal when an external force exceeds that of the muscle while the muscle lengthens. Hence, the potential to improve muscle strength by overloading the tissue is greater with eccentric strengthening than with concentric strengthening. Traditionally, the application of early postoperative high-intensity eccentric resistance training to the ACL-reconstructed limb has been contraindicated, as there is potential for injury to the ACL graft, articular cartilage, or surrounding soft-tissue structures. However, recent evidence suggests that the application of early, progressive, high-force eccentric resistance exercises to the involved limb can be used to safely increase muscle volume and strength in ACL-reconstructed individuals. As a result, eccentric strengthening may be another attractive alternative to traditional concentric strengthening to improve quadriceps strength after ACL reconstruction. In patients who have undergone ACL reconstruction, is there evidence to suggest that eccentric exercise positively affects postoperative quadriceps strength?
ISSN:1056-6716
1543-3072
DOI:10.1123/jsr.22.2.150