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International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022Despite the restoration of the mechanical stability of the knee joint after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), patients often experience postoperative limitations. To our... (Review)
Review
Despite the restoration of the mechanical stability of the knee joint after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), patients often experience postoperative limitations. To our knowledge, there are no systematic reviews analyzing additional physiotherapy interventions implementing standard rehabilitation programs in the early postoperative phase after ACLR. The objective of this study was to analyze the additional physiotherapy interventions implemented in standard rehabilitation programs that improve early-stage ACLR rehabilitation. For this systematic review, we followed the PRISMA guidelines. In March 2022 we conducted a literature review using electronic databases. Primary outcomes were pain, edema, muscle strength, ROM, and knee function. The risk of bias and scientific quality of included studies were assessed with the RoB 2, ROBINS-I and PEDro scale. For the review, we included 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria (total = 3271). The included studies evaluated the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping, Whole-body vibration, Local Vibration Training, Trigger Point Dry Needling, High Tone Power Therapy, alternating magnetic field, and App-Based Active Muscle Training Program. Most of the additional physiotherapy interventions improved pain, edema, ROM, knee muscle strength, or knee function in early-stage postoperative ACL rehabilitation. Except for one study, no adverse events occurred in the included studies, which demonstrates the safety of the discussed physiotherapy interventions. Further in-depth research is needed in this area.
Topics: Humans; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Knee Joint; Pain
PubMed: 36497965
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315893 -
International Journal of Sports... Dec 2020The gluteus medius (GMed) and gluteus minimus (GMin) muscle segments demonstrate different responses to pathology and ageing, hence it is important in rehabilitation...
BACKGROUND
The gluteus medius (GMed) and gluteus minimus (GMin) muscle segments demonstrate different responses to pathology and ageing, hence it is important in rehabilitation that prescribed therapeutic exercises can effectively target the individual segments with adequate exercise intensity for strengthening.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate whether common therapeutic exercises generate at least high ( > 40% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)) electromyographic (EMG) activity in the GMed (anterior, middle and posterior) and GMin (anterior and posterior) segments.
METHODS
Seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AusSPORT, PEDro, SPORTdiscus and Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to May 2018 for terms relating to gluteal muscle, exercise, and EMG. The search yielded 6918 records with 56 suitable for inclusion. Quality assessment, data extraction and data analysis were then undertaken with exercise data pooled into a meta-analysis where two or more studies were available for an exercise and muscle segment.
RESULTS
For the GMed, different variations of the hip hitch/ pelvic drop exercise generated at least high activity in all segments. The dip test, and isometric standing hip abduction are other options to target the anterior GMed segment, while isometric standing hip abduction can be used for the posterior GMed segment. For the middle GMed segment, the single leg bridge; side-lying hip abduction with hip internal rotation; lateral step-up; standing hip abduction on stance or swing leg with added resistance; and resisted side-step were the best options for generating at least high activity. Standing isometric hip abduction and different variations of the hip hitch/ pelvic drop exercise generated at least high activity in all GMin segments, while side-lying hip abduction, the dip test, single leg bridge and single leg squat can also be used for targeting the posterior GMin segment.
CONCLUSION
The findings from this review provide the clinician with confidence in exercise prescription for targeting individual GMed and GMin segments for potential strengthening following injury or ageing.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level 1.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SUBJECT
Previous reviews on GMed exercises have been based on single electrode, surface EMG measures at middle GMed segment. It is not known whether these exercises effectively target the other segments of GMed or the GMin at a sufficient intensity for strengthening.
WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE
This review provides the clinician with confidence in exercise prescription of common therapeutic exercises to effectively target individual GMed and GMin segments for potential strengthening.
PubMed: 33344003
DOI: 10.26603/ijspt20200856 -
Acta Orthopaedica Et Traumatologica... 2016The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of 3 tests for assessing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of 3 tests for assessing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CBM (Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) searches were performed. Studies selected for data extraction were those that addressed the accuracy of at least 1 physical diagnostic test for ACL rupture in comparison with a clinical reference standard such as arthroscopy, arthrotomy, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The references of the included studies were also reviewed. Searches were limited to English and Chinese languages.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies that assessed the accuracy of the 3 tests for diagnosing ACL ruptures met the inclusion criteria. Study results were, however, heterogeneous. The Lachman test is the most sensitive test to determine ACL tears, showing a pooled sensitivity of 87.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-0.90). The pivot shift test is the most specific test, showing a pooled specificity of 97.5% (95% CI 0.95-0.99); additionally, it has the highest positive likelihood ratios (LR+) of 16.00 (95% CI 7.34-34.87). The Lachman test has the lowest negative likelihood ratios (LR-) of 0.17 (95% CI 0.11-0.25).
CONCLUSION
In cases of suspected ACL injury, it is recommended to perform the pivot shift test, as it is highly specific and has greater likelihood and discrimination of accurately diagnosing ACL rupture. The Lachman test has great efficacy in ruling out a diagnosis of ACL rupture because of the lowest negative likelihood ratios.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Arthroscopy; Comparative Effectiveness Research; Dimensional Measurement Accuracy; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 26854045
DOI: 10.3944/AOTT.2016.14.0283 -
Deutsches Arzteblatt International Dec 2018Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a serious injury in patients who are typically young and athletically active, with potential long-term complica- tions...
BACKGROUND
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a serious injury in patients who are typically young and athletically active, with potential long-term complica- tions including functional limitation, posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the knee, and impaired quality of life. ACL reconstruction is now considered the gold standard of treatment for regaining stability and improving knee function. Conservative treatment is an alternative.
METHODS
To compare operative and conservative treatment, we reviewed pertinent publications retrieved by a systematic search in Ovid MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and other databases. PROSPERO registration of the study protocol: CRD42017060462 on 31 March 2017.
RESULTS
13 publications concerning a total of 1246 patients were included in the analysis; only two were reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In one of the RCTs, ACL reconstruction was found to yield better functional outcomes than con- servative management. The other RCT did not reveal any harm from initial conser- vative management, although the conservative-to-operative crossover rate in this trial was 51%. The functional outcomes were heterogeneous. In six observational studies, knee function was significantly better after surgery; in seven others, it was not. Five out of nine analyses in which knee-joint stability was restored after surgery showed superior functional outcomes after ACL reconstruction compared to conser- vative management. Three studies in which no satisfactory postoperative knee-joint stability was found did not show any functional difference between surgery and conservative management.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of RCTs published to date, it cannot be definitively con- cluded whether surgery or conservative (expectant) management of ACL rupture yields a better functional outcome. There is a trend in observational studies toward better functional outcomes after ACL reconstruction. As an average across studies, conservative treatment fails in 17.5% (± 15.5%) of patients.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Child; Conservative Treatment; Female; Humans; Male; Quality of Life; Rupture
PubMed: 30765021
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2018.0855 -
PloS One 2020Systematic review.
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Preoperative neuromuscular function is predictive for knee function and return to sports (RTS) after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The aim of this review was to examine the potential benefits of prehabilitation on pre-/postoperative objective, self-reported and RTS-specific outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted within three databases. From the 1.071 studies screened, two randomized control trials (RCTs), two control trials (CTs) and two cohort studies (CS) met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality rating adopted the PEDro- (RCT, CT) or Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale (CS).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Methodological quality of the included studies was moderate (PEDro score: 6.5 ± 1.7; range 4 to 9). Two studies reported higher increases of the maximal quadriceps torque from baseline to pre-reconstruction: one study in the limb symmetry index (LSI), and one in both legs of the prehabilitation group compared to the controls. At 12-weeks post-reconstruction, one study (from two) indicated that the prehabilitation group had a lesser post-operative decline in the single-leg-hop for distance LSI (clinically meaningful). Similar findings were found in terms of quadriceps strength LSI (one study). At both pre-reconstruction (three studies) and two-year post-surgery (two studies), the prehabilitation groups reached significantly higher self-reported knee function (clinically meaningful) than the controls. RTS tended to be faster (one study). At two years post-surgery, RTS rates (one study) were higher in the prehabilitation groups. The results provide evidence for the relevance of prehabilitation prior to ACL-reconstruction to improve neuromuscular and self-reported knee function as well as RTS. More high quality confirmatory RCTs are warranted.
REGISTRATION NUMBER
PROSPERO 2017: CRD42017065491.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Postoperative Complications; Preoperative Period; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Recovery of Function; Return to Sport
PubMed: 33112865
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240192 -
PloS One 2016Hamstring strain and anterior cruciate ligament injuries are, respectively, the most prevalent and serious non-contact occurring injuries in team sports. Specific... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The Effectiveness of Injury Prevention Programs to Modify Risk Factors for Non-Contact Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Hamstring Injuries in Uninjured Team Sports Athletes: A Systematic Review.
BACKGROUND
Hamstring strain and anterior cruciate ligament injuries are, respectively, the most prevalent and serious non-contact occurring injuries in team sports. Specific biomechanical and neuromuscular variables have been used to estimate the risk of incurring a non-contact injury in athletes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to systematically review the evidences for the effectiveness of injury prevention protocols to modify biomechanical and neuromuscular anterior cruciate and/or hamstring injuries associated risk factors in uninjured team sport athletes.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane Libraries, U.S. National Institutes of Health clinicaltrials.gov, Sport Discuss and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant journal articles published until March 2015. A manual review of relevant articles, authors, and journals, including bibliographies was performed from identified articles.
MAIN RESULTS
Nineteen studies were included in this review. Four assessment categories: i) landing, ii) side cutting, iii) stop-jump, and iv) muscle strength outcomes, were used to analyze the effectiveness of the preventive protocols. Eight studies using multifaceted interventions supported by video and/or technical feedback showed improvement in landing and/or stop-jump biomechanics, while no effects were observed on side-cutting maneuver. Additionally, multifaceted programs including hamstring eccentric exercises increased hamstring strength, hamstring to quadriceps functional ratio and/or promoted a shift of optimal knee flexion peak torque toward a more open angle position.
CONCLUSIONS
Multifaceted programs, supported by proper video and/or technical feedback, including eccentric hamstring exercises would positively modify the biomechanical and or neuromuscular anterior cruciate and/or hamstring injury risk factors.
Topics: Adolescent; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Athletes; Female; Hamstring Muscles; Humans; Male; Motor Activity; Muscle Strength; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Risk Factors; Sports; Young Adult
PubMed: 27171282
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155272 -
BMJ Open May 2021To systematically review and summarise the evidence for the effects of neuromuscular training compared with any other therapy (conventional training/sham) on knee...
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review and summarise the evidence for the effects of neuromuscular training compared with any other therapy (conventional training/sham) on knee proprioception following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
DESIGN
Systematic Review.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, AMED, Scopus and Physical Education Index were searched from inception to February 2020.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials investigating the effects of neuromuscular training on knee-specific proprioception tests following a unilateral ACL injury were included.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data and assessed risk of bias of the eligible studies using the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. Overall certainty in evidence was determined using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool.
RESULTS
Of 2706 articles retrieved, only 9 RCTs, comprising 327 individuals with an ACL reconstruction (ACLR), met the inclusion criteria. Neuromuscular training interventions varied across studies: whole body vibration therapy, Nintendo-Wii-Fit training, balance training, sport-specific exercises, backward walking, etc. Outcome measures included joint position sense (JPS; n=7), thresholds to detect passive motion (TTDPM; n=3) or quadriceps force control (QFC; n=1). Overall, between-group mean differences indicated inconsistent findings with an increase or decrease of errors associated with JPS by ≤2°, TTDPM by ≤1.5° and QFC by ≤6 Nm in the ACLR knee following neuromuscular training. Owing to serious concerns with three or more GRADE domains (risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness or imprecision associated with the findings) for each outcome of interest across studies, the certainty of evidence was very low.
CONCLUSIONS
The heterogeneity of interventions, methodological limitations, inconsistency of effects (on JPS/TTDPM/QFC) preclude recommendation of one optimal neuromuscular training intervention for improving proprioception following ACL injury in clinical practice. There is a need for methodologically robust RCTs with homogenous populations with ACL injury (managed conservatively or with reconstruction), novel/well-designed neuromuscular training and valid proprioception assessments, which also seem to be lacking.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42018107349.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Humans; Knee Joint; Proprioception; Range of Motion, Articular
PubMed: 34006560
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049226 -
The Journal of Knee Surgery Jul 2008Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgical knee procedure that requires intensive postoperative rehabilitation by the patient. A variety of... (Review)
Review
A systematic review of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction rehabilitation: part I: continuous passive motion, early weight bearing, postoperative bracing, and home-based rehabilitation.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgical knee procedure that requires intensive postoperative rehabilitation by the patient. A variety of randomized controlled trials have investigated aspects of ACL reconstruction rehabilitation. A systematic review of English language level 1 and 2 studies identified 54 appropriate randomized controlled trials of ACL rehabilitation. Topics discussed in this part of the article include continuous passive motion, early weight bearing in motion, postoperative bracing, and home-based rehabilitation.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Braces; Humans; Orthopedic Procedures; Physical Therapy Modalities; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Range of Motion, Articular; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Weight-Bearing
PubMed: 18686484
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1247822 -
The Journal of Knee Surgery Jul 2008Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgical knee procedure that requires intensive postoperative rehabilitation by the patient. A variety of... (Review)
Review
A systematic review of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction rehabilitation: part II: open versus closed kinetic chain exercises, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, accelerated rehabilitation, and miscellaneous topics.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgical knee procedure that requires intensive postoperative rehabilitation by the patient. A variety of randomized controlled trials have investigated aspects of ACL reconstruction rehabilitation. A systematic review of English language level 1 and 2 studies identified 54 appropriate randomized controlled trials of ACL rehabilitation. This part of the article discusses open versus closed kinetic chain exercises, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, accelerated rehabilitation, and miscellaneous topics.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Electric Stimulation; Humans; Orthopedic Procedures; Physical Therapy Modalities; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Plastic Surgery Procedures
PubMed: 18686485
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1247823 -
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2021Exercising women report three to six times more ACL tears than men, which happen, in the majority of cases, with a non-contact mechanism. This sex disparity has, in...
Effect of menstrual cycle phase, menstrual irregularities and hormonal contraceptive use on anterior knee laxity and non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury occurrence in women: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Exercising women report three to six times more ACL tears than men, which happen, in the majority of cases, with a non-contact mechanism. This sex disparity has, in part, been attributed to the differences in reproductive hormone profiles between men and women. Many studies have shown that anterior knee (AK) laxity and the rate of non-contact ACL injuries vary across the menstrual cycle, but these data are inconsistent. Similarly, several studies have investigated the potential protective effect of hormonal contraceptives on non-contact ACL injuries, but their conclusions are also variable. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to, identify, evaluate and summarise the effects of endogenous and exogenous ovarian hormones on AK laxity (primary outcome) and the occurrence of non-contact ACL injuries (secondary outcome) in women. We will perform a systematic search for all observational studies conducted on this topic. Studies will be retrieved by searching electronic databases, clinical trial registers, author's personal files and cross-referencing selected studies. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for Cohort and Case-Control Studies. Certainty in the cumulative evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. The meta-analyses will use a Bayesian approach to address specific research questions in a more intuitive and probabilistic manner. This review is registered on the international database of prospectively registered systematic reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42021252365).
PubMed: 34745647
DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001170