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Int J Sports Med 2023; 44(11): 830-838
DOI: 10.1055/a-2108-5219
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

Fatigue-induced Landing Alterations in ACL Reconstructed Athletes after Return-to-Sport

Miel Willems 
1   Department of Movement Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Laurens Gilson
1   Department of Movement Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Sabine Verschueren
2   Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Jos Vanrenterghem
2   Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Filip Staes
2   Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Hilde Vandenneucker
3   Department of Orthopedics, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven Gasthuisberg Campus, Leuven, Belgium
4   Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Steven Claes
5   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, AZ Herentals, Herentals, Belgium
,
Annemie Smeets
2   Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
6   Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven Pellenberg Campus, Leuven, Belgium
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Abstract

At the time of return-to-sport, anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed athletes still show altered neuromechanics in their injured leg during single leg hopping tasks. Part of these alterations can be magnified when these athletes are fatigued. So far, little is known whether fatigue-induced landing alterations persist after return-to-sport. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether these alterations persist in the six months following return-to-sport. Sixteen anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed athletes performed five unilateral hop tasks before and after a fatigue protocol. The hop tasks were executed at three different time points (return-to-sport, 3 and 6 months post-return-to-sport). A 2-by-3 repeated measures ANOVA was performed to evaluate whether fatigue-induced landing alterations persisted 3 and 6 months following return-to-sport. At 6 months following return-to-sport, fatigue still induces a reduction in hamstring medialis activation and an increase in the knee abduction moment during a vertical hop with 90-degree inward rotation. Most fatigue-induced landing alterations present at the time of return-to-sport normalize after resumption of sports activities. However, a larger knee abduction moment in the injured leg after resumption of sports activities can still be observed.

Key words

ACL reconstruction - return to sport - kinetics - neuromuscular activation - fatigue.

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 08 August 2022

Accepted: 31 May 2023

Article published online:
25 July 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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