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International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2021Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are the most common ligament injury of the knee, accounting for between 100,000 and 200,000 injuries among athletes per year.... (Review)
Review
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are the most common ligament injury of the knee, accounting for between 100,000 and 200,000 injuries among athletes per year. ACL injuries occur via contact and non-contact mechanisms, with the former being more common in males and the later being more common in females. These injuries typically require surgical repair and have relatively high re-rupture rates, resulting in a significant psychological burden for these individuals and long rehabilitation times. Numerous studies have attempted to determine risk factors for ACL rupture, including hormonal, biomechanical, and sport- and gender-specific factors. However, the incidence of ACL injuries continues to rise. Therefore, we performed a systematic review analyzing both ACL injury video analysis studies and studies on athletes who were pre-screened with eventual ACL injury. We investigated biomechanical mechanisms contributing to ACL injury and considered male and female differences. Factors such as hip angle and strength, knee movement, trunk stability, and ankle motion were considered to give a comprehensive, joint by joint analysis of injury risk and possible roles of prevention. Our review demonstrated that poor core stability, landing with heel strike, weak hip abduction strength, and increased knee valgus may contribute to increased ACL injury risk in young athletes.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Athletes; Biomechanical Phenomena; Female; Humans; Knee Joint; Male
PubMed: 33917488
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073826 -
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.... Oct 2012Rigorous rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is necessary for a successful surgical outcome. A large number of clinical trials continue... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
BACKGROUND
Rigorous rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is necessary for a successful surgical outcome. A large number of clinical trials continue to assess aspects of this rehabilitation process. Prior systematic reviews evaluated fifty-four Level-I and II clinical trials published through 2005.
METHODS
Eighty-five articles from 2006 to 2010 were identified utilizing multiple search engines. Twenty-nine Level-I or II studies met inclusion criteria and were evaluated with use of the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) criteria. Topics included in this review are postoperative bracing, accelerated strengthening, home-based rehabilitation, proprioception and neuromuscular training, and six miscellaneous topics investigated in single trials.
RESULTS
Bracing following ACL reconstruction remains neither necessary nor beneficial and adds to the cost of the procedure. Early return to sports needs further research. Home-based rehabilitation can be successful. Although neuromuscular interventions are not likely to be harmful to patients, they are also not likely to yield large improvements in outcomes or help patients return to sports faster. Thus, they should not be performed to the exclusion of strengthening and range-of-motion exercises. Vibration training may lead to faster and more complete proprioceptive recovery but further evidence is needed.
CONCLUSIONS
Several new modalities for rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction may be helpful but should not be performed to the exclusion of range-of-motion, strengthening, and functional exercises. Accelerated rehabilitation does not appear to be harmful but further investigation of rehabilitation timing is warranted.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Braces; Exercise Therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Knee Injuries; Male; Pain Measurement; Postoperative Care; Radiography; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Range of Motion, Articular; Recovery of Function; Risk Assessment; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 23032584
DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.K.01246 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence May 2010Injury of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle joint occurs in about one in 10,000 people a day, accounting for a quarter of all sports injuries. (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Injury of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle joint occurs in about one in 10,000 people a day, accounting for a quarter of all sports injuries.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatment strategies for acute ankle ligament ruptures? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to November 2009 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 38 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: cold treatment, diathermy, functional treatment, homeopathic ointment, immobilisation, physiotherapy, surgery, and ultrasound.
Topics: Ankle Injuries; Ankle Joint; Bandages; Humans; Lateral Ligament, Ankle; Ligaments, Articular; Physical Therapy Modalities; Sprains and Strains
PubMed: 21718566
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Sport and Health Science May 2023For the past 30 years, the hamstring (H)-to-quadriceps (Q) (H:Q) torque ratio has been considered an important index of muscle strength imbalance around the knee joint.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
For the past 30 years, the hamstring (H)-to-quadriceps (Q) (H:Q) torque ratio has been considered an important index of muscle strength imbalance around the knee joint. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the value of H:Q torque ratio as an independent risk factor for hamstring and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.
METHODS
Database searches were performed to identify all relevant articles in PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Prospective studies evaluating the conventional (concentric H:Q), functional (eccentric H: concentric Q), and mixed (eccentric H at 30°/s: concentric Q at 240°/s) H:Q ratios as risk factors for occurrence of hamstring muscle strain or ACL injury were considered. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality In Prognosis Studies tool.
RESULTS
Eighteen included studies reported 585 hamstrings injuries in 2945 participants, and 5 studies documented 128 ACL injuries in 2772 participants. Best evidence synthesis analysis indicated that there is very limited evidence that H:Q strength ratio is an independent risk factor for hamstring and ACL injury, and this was not different between various ratio types. Methodological limitations and limited evidence for ACL injuries and some ratio types might have influenced these results.
CONCLUSION
The H:Q ratio has limited value for the prediction of ACL and hamstring injuries. Monitoring strength imbalances along with other modifiable factors during the entire competitive season may provide a better understanding of the association between H:Q ratio and injury.
Topics: Humans; Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Hamstring Muscles; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Muscle, Skeletal; Torque; Prospective Studies; Leg Injuries
PubMed: 35065297
DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2022.01.002 -
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma... Aug 2013Lateral ankle sprains are common musculoskeletal injuries. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Lateral ankle sprains are common musculoskeletal injuries.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to perform a systematic literature review of the last 10 years regarding evidence for the treatment and prevention of lateral ankle sprains.
DATA SOURCE
Pubmed central, Google scholar.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Meta-analysis, prospective randomized trials, English language articles.
INTERVENTIONS
Surgical and non-surgical treatment, immobilization versus functional treatment, different external supports, balance training for rehabilitation, balance training for prevention, braces for prevention.
METHODS
A systematic search for articles about the treatment of lateral ankle sprains that were published between January 2002 and December 2012.
RESULTS
Three meta-analysis and 19 articles reporting 16 prospective randomized trials could be identified. The main advantage of surgical ankle ligament repair is that objective instability and recurrence rate is less common when compared with non-operative treatment. Balancing the advantages and disadvantages of surgical and non-surgical treatment, we conclude that the majority of grades I, II and III lateral ankle ligament ruptures can be managed without surgery. For non-surgical treatment, long-term immobilization should be avoided. For grade III injuries, however, a short period of immobilization (max. 10 days) in a below knee cast was shown to be advantageous. After this phase, the ankle is most effectively protected against inversion by a semi-rigid ankle brace. Even grades I and II injuries are most effectively treated with a semi-rigid ankle brace. There is evidence that treatment of acute ankle sprains should be supported by a neuromuscular training. Balance training is also effective for the prevention of ankle sprains in athletes with the previous sprains. There is good evidence from high level randomized trials in the literature that the use of a brace is effective for the prevention of ankle sprains.
CONCLUSION
Balancing the advantages and disadvantages of surgical and non-surgical treatment, we conclude that the majority of grades I, II and III lateral ankle ligament ruptures can be managed without surgery. The indication for surgical repair should be always made on an individual basis. This systematic review supports a phase adapted non-surgical treatment of acute ankle sprains with a short-term immobilization for grade III injuries followed by a semi-rigid brace. More prospective randomized studies with a longer follow-up are needed to find out what type of non-surgical treatment has the lowest re-sprain rate.
Topics: Acute Disease; Ankle Injuries; Humans; Lateral Ligament, Ankle; Prospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sprains and Strains
PubMed: 23712708
DOI: 10.1007/s00402-013-1742-5 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2022This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the isokinetic strength of the muscular knee joint between quadriceps tendon autografts (QTAs) and hamstring tendon... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Strength Recovery Measured by Isokinetic Dynamometer Technology after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Quadriceps Tendon Autografts vs. Hamstring Tendon Autografts or Patellar Tendon Autografts.
BACKGROUND
This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the isokinetic strength of the muscular knee joint between quadriceps tendon autografts (QTAs) and hamstring tendon autografts (HTAs) or patellar tendon autografts (PTAs) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by determining the isokinetic angular velocity and follow-up time points. The functional outcomes and knee stability at the same time points were also compared using isokinetic technology.
METHODS
Two independent reviewers searched the Medline (via PubMed search engine), Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases to include full text comparative studies that assessed isokinetic strength test following ACL reconstruction. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used.
RESULTS
In total, ten studies were included; seven compared studies QTAs vs. HTAs, and three compared QTAs vs. PTAs. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis. Isokinetic strength data were reported 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after ACL reconstruction.
CONCLUSIONS
The QTAs showed better and significant results with knee flexion compared with HTAs, similar results to PTAs at 6 and 12 months. While HTAs showed better and significant results with knee extension at 6 months and similar results at 12 months compared to QTAs. Furthermore, a standardized isokinetic strength test must be followed to achieve a more specific conclusion and better clinical comparison among participants.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Autografts; Hamstring Tendons; Humans; Patellar Ligament; Technology; Tendons
PubMed: 35682357
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116764 -
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