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Quadriceps and Patient-Reported Function in ACL-Reconstructed Patients: A Principal Component Analysis
Journal of Sport Rehabilitation
|July 18, 2017
Summary
Quadriceps muscle function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) involves distinct peripheral and central components. Key measures like knee-extensor work and activation ratios can accurately classify patients with ACL-R.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Assessing physical function post-ACL reconstruction (ACL-R) is complex.
- Need for efficient tests to identify meaningful performance indicators.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate quadriceps muscle function constructs in ACL-R patients.
- Establish clinical thresholds for classifying patients with and without ACL-R.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study in a research laboratory setting.
- Assessed isokinetic strength, isometric contraction, fatigue index, central activation ratio, Hoffmann reflex, and active motor threshold in 72 ACL-R patients and 30 controls.
- Utilized principal component and receiver-operator characteristic curve analyses.
Main Results:
- Identified three components of quadriceps function (peripheral, central, combined), explaining 70.7%–80.5% of variance.
- Total knee-extensor work at 90°/s, active motor threshold, and central activation ratio predicted patient status.
- Achieved 83.5% accuracy in classifying patients with ACL-R.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral, central, and combined muscle function constructs are unique in ACL-R patients.
- Knee-extensor work, active motor threshold, and central activation ratio showed diagnostic utility.
- These measures accurately predicted group membership (72.8%–83.5% accuracy).
