Muscle Architecture and Anterior Cruciate Ligament

The Effects of Plyometric Training on Vastus Lateralis and Biceps Femoris Muscle Architectures in Individuals Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of plyometric training on biceps femoris longus (BFl) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle architecture in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Individuals will be randomly placed into training and control groups. Measurements of muscle architecture will be taken bilaterally from BFl and VL muscles by means of an ultrasound device. Functional performance will be evaluated with the International Knee Documentation Committee score and the single leg jump test. Following the initial evaluations, individuals in the training group will receive plyometric training. Evaluations of muscle architecture and functional performance will be taken again from the individuals in the training and control groups at the end of the 4th and 8th weeks. The received ultrasound images will be calculated through the MicroDicom software. In-group and between-group comparisons will be analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program and appropriate tests.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Plyometric Exercise

Detailed Description

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common, especially in young individuals participating in rolling and jumping activities. After injury, many people undergo ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of plyometric training on biceps femoris longus (BFl) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle architecture (fiber length, penation angle and muscle thickness) in individuals with ACLR. Individuals who have undergone ACLR in this study, which is designed as a parallel group randomized controlled study, will be randomly placed into two different groups, the training group and the control group. Imagery ability, self-efficacy and motivation will be evaluated with various questionnaires and scales in order to compare the homogeneity of the groups. Measurements of muscle architecture will be taken bilaterally from BFl and VL muscles by means of an ultrasound device. Functional performance will be evaluated with the International Knee Documentation Committee score and the single leg jump test. Following the initial evaluations, individuals in the training group will receive plyometric training consisting of ten different exercises for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. In this training, individuals will not participate in a real plyometric training. Volunteers will watch videos to be prepared (action observation) and imagine them performing those exercises (motor imagery). Except for one session that will be applied every two weeks, all other trainings will be given on the basis of telerehabilitation via distance education tools. Cognitive fatigue at the beginning and end of the session; at the end of each session, the technical quality and efficiency of the training will be evaluated. Evaluations of muscle architecture and functional performance will be taken again from the individuals in the control and training groups at the end of the 4th and 8th weeks. The received ultrasound images will be calculated through the MicroDicom software. In-group and between-group comparisons will be analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program and appropriate tests.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Murat Emirzeoğlu; Phone Number: +904623778842; Email: muratemirzeoglu@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Türkiye
    • Ankara, Türkiye, Turkey, 06230
      • Recruiting
      • Hacettepe Universitesi
      • Contact: Murat Emirzeoğlu; Phone Number: +90 4623778842; Email: muratemirzeoglu@gmail.com
      • Principal Investigator: Özlem Ülger

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Volunteers with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)
• Volunteers using hamstring autograft in their ACLR
• Volunteers who have passed 1-5 years after their ACLR

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who underwent same-side meniscus repair other than ACLR
• Those who have had revision surgery
• Those who had posterior cruciate ligament rupture in addition to anterior cruciate ligament
• Third-degree tears in the lateral or medial collateral ligaments
• Those with 2nd or 3rd degree strain injuries in hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups
• Those with a history of congenital, neurological, orthopedic, rheumatologic and cardiopulmonary pathology or anomalies,
• Those with serious systemic diseases

Relative Exclusion Criteria:

• Those with acute infection or pain
• Those with joint instability
• Those with a body mass index of 30 and above
• Those receiving energy supplements or ergogenic assistance during or during the 6-month period prior to work

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Plyometric Training Group; Individuals in the plyometric training group will receive plyometric training. In this training, individuals will not participate in a real plyometric training. Volunteers will watch videos to be prepared (action observation) and imagine them performing those exercises (motor imagery). Except for one session that will be applied every two weeks, all other trainings will be given on the basis of telerehabilitation via distance education tools.	Other: Plyometric Exercise; Plyometric training consisting of ten different exercises [vertical unilateral and bilateral counter movement jump, horizontal unilateral and bilateral counter movement jump, drop jump (30 cm), squat jump, step-hop (20 cm), 180 degree rotation in transverse plane, frontal plane hurdle jump (20 cm) and sagittal plane hurdle jump (20 cm)] for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. Individuals will not participate in a real plyometric training. Volunteers will watch videos to be prepared (action observation) and imagine them performing those exercises (motor imagery)
No Intervention: Control Group; Volunteers in this group will not participate in any training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle Architecture Change-1	Fiber length of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris longus muscles	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week
Muscle Architecture Change-2	Pennation angle of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris longus muscles	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week
Muscle Architecture Change-3	Muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris longus muscles	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional Performance Change-1	International knee documentation committee score. (Minimum score: 0 Maximum score: 100. Higher scores mean a better outcome.	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week
Functional Performance Change-2	Single leg jump distance	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hacettepe University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): April 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 26, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): December 30, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 26, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 23, 2022
• Last Verified: September 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: function; muscle architecture; action observation; motor imagery; biceps femoris; vastus lateralis; anterior cruciate ligament; plyometric training; fiber length; pennation angle; muscle thickness
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Knee Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020-11167

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No