Article

OBJECTIVES: To determine the interest of a muscle rehabilitation program
following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ligamentoplasty) and the
influence of leucine supplementation on the muscle strength of athletes
undergoing reathletization. METHODS: The authors have analyzed
prospectively, in double blind, two groups of athletes (22 versus 23) who had
randomly received either leucine supplementation or a placebo. Muscle strength
was measured at the beginning and the end of the program In terms of thigh
perimeter, isokinetic testing results, single-leg test and percentage of body
fat. The reathletization program was identical in the two groups for an average
of 2.7weeks. RESULTS: By the end of the program, both groups had increased their
thigh perimeter at 10 and 15cm from the patella (respectively 1.2cm and 1.3cm,
P<0.0001). Fat mass had decreased by 1.28% (P=0.017). Values of isokinetic muscle
strength for the injured limb improved by 13 to 55% with highly significant
differences. The leucine group generally showed more improved muscle parameters
than the placebo group, with only one significant positive result with regard to
thigh muscle perimeter at 10cm from the patella (P=0.009). CONCLUSION: With or
without leucine, the rehabilitation program leads to improved muscle quality.
Taking leucine appears to promote muscle recovery of the injured limb with regard
to a single parameter (thigh muscle perimeter at 10cm from the patella), while
the other parameters showed no significant improvement. A complementary study
associating the recovery phase with other dietary supplements might help to
optimize these preliminary results.
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Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS