Training Modifies Corticomotor Function in Walking Activity in Athletes with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Department of Motor Behavior, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Motor Control, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Knowledge and Cognitive Intelligence, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Central Branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aims: Due to the lack of mechanoreceptors in people with anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLR), sensory and motor neuroplasticity occurs, which causes abnormal and asymmetric motor control patterns in the lower limbs. Perturbation neuromuscular training improves motor asymmetry and functional deficits in ACLR subjects. For this reason, in this study, we used perturbation training in a different way.
Material and Methods: Thirty athletes with unilateral ACLR were randomly assigned to perturbation and standard training groups. The training program of the two groups was performed in three intermittent sessions per week for one month. The surface electromyography (sEMG) tests and relative power spectrum of alpha and beta of quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) were measured in a walking task.
Results: The perturbation training group achieved a significantly higher similarity index (SI) (p=0.03, ES=0.89) and voluntary response index (VRI) in both healthy and ACLR limbs (p=0.001) in posttest than the standard training group. In cortical activity tests, the perturbation training group showed excellent symmetry in the relative power spectrum of alpha compared to the standard training group (p=0.94, ES=0.02) as well as good symmetry in the relative power spectrum of beta (p=0.24, ES=0.26).
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that mechanical perturbation training with challenges similar to the real world are a more appropriate training option in transferring ACLR athletes to preinjury conditions.

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The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 November 2023

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History

  • Receive Date: 10 July 2023
  • Revise Date: 18 July 2023
  • Accept Date: 19 July 2023
  • First Publish Date: 19 August 2023

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