Article

In healthy individuals, maximum vertical ground reaction force (MVGRF) remains
close to constant during constant velocity running, despite variation in
stiffness of the surface underfoot. Because the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
possesses mechanoreceptors that influence recruitment of knee muscles, it may
play a role in regulation of lower limb force output. This study was designed to
examine the effect of recent ACL reconstruction on MVGRF in running. Seven
patients who were 5-13 weeks post-ACL reconstruction and 7 healthy participants
ran for 60 seconds in shoes modified with hard and with soft 1-cm outsoles. The
MVGRF during running was measured for the ACL reconstructed and nonsurgical limbs
of patients and limbs of healthy participants. The difference in MVGRF between
running in hard and soft shoes was significantly greater in ACL reconstructed
limbs than nonsurgical limbs (p = 0.003) and compared to limbs of healthy
participants (p = 0.001). In contrast, a difference in MVGRF between shoes was
not found between patients' nonsurgical limbs and those of healthy participants.
A lack of mechanoreceptive feedback from the ACL graft may be among the factors
explaining the difference between the ACL reconstructed limbs and the other two
limb conditions.

Langue : ANGLAIS