Biomechanical assessment of jumps in subjects with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the HAMSTRING tendon graft: the relationship with patellofemoral osteoarthritis

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common consequence after the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. However, the ACL reconstruction does not decrease the radiographic signs of OA. A recent study showed that individuals with ACL reconstruction using the quadruple hamstring tendon autograft have more prevalence of patellofemoral OA than tibiofemoral OA. Nevertheless, the development of patellofemoral OA after this reconstruction in jumper athletes is not clear. Some studies presented that individuals after ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon graft show a decrease in hip extensors strength. Therefore, this deficit in hip extensors strength may result in less trunk leaning forward during landing jump, and consequently increasing the patellofemoral joint stress. The objective of the present study is to compare between athletes with ACL reconstruction and healthy athletes the trunk, hip and knee flexion angles; the hip and knee extensor internal moments; the relative contribution of hip and knee; and the patellofemoral joint stress during landings of single-leg drop vertical jumps. Furthermore, other aim of this study is to compare the eccentric strength of the knee extensors and flexors, as well as the hip extensors between groups. The participants of this study will be 40 individuals divided into two groups: one with individuals with ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft (GLCA; n = 20), and the other with healthy individuals (GC; n = 20). The hip and knee torque will be assessed by the isokinetic dynamometer Biodex Multi-Joint System III. The kinematic and kinetic of the landing jumps will be performed by the capturing system and motion analysis Vicon and the force platform AMTI Force and Motion (Model OPT400600HF-2000). The groups will be compared by the independent test t or by the Mann-Whitney test. A level of significance of 0.05 will be adopted for all tests. (AU)