Association Between Neuromuscular Parameters and Functional Assessment After ACL Reconstruction (KASTLAB)

Association of Strength and Proprioception Parameters With Qualitative Assessment of Functional Tasks After ACL Reconstruction

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is common in athletes aged 18 to 35. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) aims to restore knee stability in the process of returning to sports. Post-surgical rehabilitation focuses on optimizing biomechanical parameters, with neuromuscular and functional tests assessing muscle strength, proprioception, and dynamic stability. Isokinetic allows the measurement of muscle strength symmetry and proprioception, while the single-leg hop and landing tasks assess functional stability and are predictive of sports resumption and injury prevention. Despite progress, concerns remain about neuromuscular factors impacting knee stability, especially during landings, which can increase the risk of secondary ACL injuries.

This study proposes examining knee strength and proprioception using isokinetic dynamometry, alongside biomechanical assessments from functional tests, to explore their relationship to biomechanical features during landings, at 6-to-12 months post-ACL reconstruction. The hypothesis is that better muscle strength and proprioception correlate with improved knee control during landing tasks.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: ACL Injury
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Isokinetic neuromuscular assessment

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 25

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Caen, France, 14000
    • Recruiting
    • CHU Caen Normandie
    • Contact: Joffrey Drigny, MD MSC; Phone Number: +33231064533; Email: drigny-j@chu-caen.fr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All sports patients included in the sport medicine follow-up protocole with isokinetic muscular assessment at 6-12 months after ACL reconstruction surgery since March 2024 in the sports medicine department (Return To Sport Process)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients, aged 18-40, who have undergone a first ACL reconstruction more than 6 months ago and are being followed in a sports medicine care pathway
• Affiliated with a health insurance plan
• Information form: Non-objection to the use of data for research purposes

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous ligament surgery of the lower limbs prior to ACL reconstruction
• Complex ligament injury (lateral ligaments, posterior cruciate ligament)
• Recent muscle injuries
• History of injury to the uninjured knee
• Pregnant woman
• Neurological history with residual effects or taking medication that affects balance/coordination
• Inability to perform a muscular assessment
• Postoperative complications (deep vein thrombosis, sepsis, stiffness/arthrofibrosis)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
ACL reconstruction group; All sports patients who had a muscle evaluation at 6 to 12 months after ACLR since March 2024	Diagnostic test: Isokinetic neuromuscular assessment; All sports patients who had a muscle evaluation in addition to functional testing at 6-12 months after ACLR since March 2024

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Passive proprioceptive evaluation	Measurement of knee proprioception by the passive repositioning technique (JPS, in degrees) on isokinetic dynamometer.	One measurement during the visit at 6 to 12 months after surgery
Strength	Measurement of knee extensors and flexors peak strength (in newton.meter, Nm) on isokinetic dynamometer.	One measurement during the visit at 6 to 12 months after surgery
Single Hop test	Measurement of knee position during landing from a single leg hop task	One measurement during the visit at 6 to 12 months after surgery
Single-leg landing task	Measurement of knee position during landing from a 30-cm box	One measurement during the visit at 6 to 12 months after surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Single Hop for Distance	The total distance is recorded (in cm)	One measurement during the visit at 6 to 12 months after surgery
ACL-RSI questionnaire (Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury)	The ACL-RSI measures the patient's understanding of his knee. It comprises 12 questions with a score of 1 to 10 for each	One measurement during the visit at 6 to 12 months after surgery
Landing Error Scoring System (LESS)	The LESS (Landing Error Scoring System) scale is a 13-item tool used to assess landing technique during a hop task.	One measurement during the visit at 6 to 12 months after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Caen

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 10, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 24, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 24, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 24, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 29, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 24, 2024
• Last Verified: July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Knee Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: KASTLAB

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No