Lower-Limb Muscle Activity During Aquatic Treadmill Running in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Chun Lung So; Man Ying Kwok; Yin Leuk  Chan; Hing Fung Kevin  Lam; Hei Tung Hilda Chang; Tsz Kit Chan; Chi Yin Ken  Leung; Hon Ting Tse

doi:10.1123/jsr.2021-0431

Lower-Limb Muscle Activity During Aquatic Treadmill Running in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Chun Lung So (Corresponding Author), Man Ying Kwok, Yin Leuk Chan, Hing Fung Kevin Lam, Hei Tung Hilda Chang, Tsz Kit Chan, Chi Yin Ken Leung , Hon Ting Tse

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are commonly managed with ACL reconstruction (ACL-R), 35% of ACL-R individuals fail to return to the preinjury elite sport level. Persistent neuromuscular deficits in the hamstrings and quadriceps have been observed. It has been proposed that aquatic therapy can be used to optimize neuromuscular control after ACL-R. Objectives: (1) To compare muscle activity in ACL-R individuals during aquatic treadmill (ATM) running at different water depths and (2) to compare muscle activity during ATM running between ACL-R and healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 38 participants, including 18 ACL-R individuals (mean postoperative time [SD] = 25.8 [25.0] mo) and 20 healthy individuals were recruited. Muscle activity of biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius during land treadmill and ATM running at mid-shin, mid-thigh, and waist levels were recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG). The sEMG signals of the selected muscles were normalized and expressed in % Maximal Voluntary Contraction (%MVC). Muscle activity of the ACL-R, ACL-contralateral, and healthy control limbs at different water depths was compared. Results: Among the 3 groups, the ACL-R group demonstrated the most prominent percentage increase of 101.97% (P = .001) at mid-shin level, 139.66% (P = .001) at mid-thigh level, and 141.97% (P < .001) at waist level, respectively, in %MVC when compared to land. In the ACL-R group, muscle activity of BF in the stance phase (BFSt) was significantly higher than the control group on land at all water depths. Muscle activity of RF in the swing phase (RFSw) in the ACL-R group significantly increased in all water depths immersion when compared to land, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed an increasing trend in muscle activity of BFSt and RFSw in ACL-R individuals during ATM running at increased water depths. ATM running could be implemented as neuromuscular training in rehabilitation after ACL-R.

Original language	English
Article number	10.1123/jsr.2021-0431
Pages (from-to)	894-903
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Sport Rehabilitation
Volume	31
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2021-0431
Publication status	Published - 29 Apr 2022

Keywords

electromyography
muscle activation
neuromuscular training

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biophysics
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation

More information

10.1123/jsr.2021-0431

Cite this

@article{9a74442c48c84c698b262a980dfe3ff4,

title = "Lower-Limb Muscle Activity During Aquatic Treadmill Running in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction",

abstract = "Introduction: While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are commonly managed with ACL reconstruction (ACL-R), 35% of ACL-R individuals fail to return to the preinjury elite sport level. Persistent neuromuscular deficits in the hamstrings and quadriceps have been observed. It has been proposed that aquatic therapy can be used to optimize neuromuscular control after ACL-R. Objectives: (1) To compare muscle activity in ACL-R individuals during aquatic treadmill (ATM) running at different water depths and (2) to compare muscle activity during ATM running between ACL-R and healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 38 participants, including 18 ACL-R individuals (mean postoperative time [SD] = 25.8 [25.0] mo) and 20 healthy individuals were recruited. Muscle activity of biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius during land treadmill and ATM running at mid-shin, mid-thigh, and waist levels were recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG). The sEMG signals of the selected muscles were normalized and expressed in % Maximal Voluntary Contraction (%MVC). Muscle activity of the ACL-R, ACL-contralateral, and healthy control limbs at different water depths was compared. Results: Among the 3 groups, the ACL-R group demonstrated the most prominent percentage increase of 101.97% (P = .001) at mid-shin level, 139.66% (P = .001) at mid-thigh level, and 141.97% (P < .001) at waist level, respectively, in %MVC when compared to land. In the ACL-R group, muscle activity of BF in the stance phase (BFSt) was significantly higher than the control group on land at all water depths. Muscle activity of RF in the swing phase (RFSw) in the ACL-R group significantly increased in all water depths immersion when compared to land, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed an increasing trend in muscle activity of BFSt and RFSw in ACL-R individuals during ATM running at increased water depths. ATM running could be implemented as neuromuscular training in rehabilitation after ACL-R.",

keywords = "electromyography, muscle activation, neuromuscular training",

author = "So, {Chun Lung} and Kwok, {Man Ying} and Chan, {Yin Leuk} and Lam, {Hing Fung Kevin} and Chang, {Hei Tung Hilda} and Chan, {Tsz Kit} and Leung, {Chi Yin Ken} and Tse, {Hon Ting}",

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doi = "10.1123/jsr.2021-0431",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

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Lower-Limb Muscle Activity During Aquatic Treadmill Running in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. / So, Chun Lung (Corresponding Author); Kwok, Man Ying; Chan, Yin Leuk et al.
In: Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, Vol. 31, No. 7, 10.1123/jsr.2021-0431, 29.04.2022, p. 894-903.

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Lower-Limb Muscle Activity During Aquatic Treadmill Running in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

AU - So, Chun Lung

AU - Kwok, Man Ying

AU - Chan, Yin Leuk

AU - Lam, Hing Fung Kevin

AU - Chang, Hei Tung Hilda

AU - Chan, Tsz Kit

AU - Leung , Chi Yin Ken

AU - Tse, Hon Ting

PY - 2022/4/29

Y1 - 2022/4/29

N2 - Introduction: While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are commonly managed with ACL reconstruction (ACL-R), 35% of ACL-R individuals fail to return to the preinjury elite sport level. Persistent neuromuscular deficits in the hamstrings and quadriceps have been observed. It has been proposed that aquatic therapy can be used to optimize neuromuscular control after ACL-R. Objectives: (1) To compare muscle activity in ACL-R individuals during aquatic treadmill (ATM) running at different water depths and (2) to compare muscle activity during ATM running between ACL-R and healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 38 participants, including 18 ACL-R individuals (mean postoperative time [SD] = 25.8 [25.0] mo) and 20 healthy individuals were recruited. Muscle activity of biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius during land treadmill and ATM running at mid-shin, mid-thigh, and waist levels were recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG). The sEMG signals of the selected muscles were normalized and expressed in % Maximal Voluntary Contraction (%MVC). Muscle activity of the ACL-R, ACL-contralateral, and healthy control limbs at different water depths was compared. Results: Among the 3 groups, the ACL-R group demonstrated the most prominent percentage increase of 101.97% (P = .001) at mid-shin level, 139.66% (P = .001) at mid-thigh level, and 141.97% (P < .001) at waist level, respectively, in %MVC when compared to land. In the ACL-R group, muscle activity of BF in the stance phase (BFSt) was significantly higher than the control group on land at all water depths. Muscle activity of RF in the swing phase (RFSw) in the ACL-R group significantly increased in all water depths immersion when compared to land, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed an increasing trend in muscle activity of BFSt and RFSw in ACL-R individuals during ATM running at increased water depths. ATM running could be implemented as neuromuscular training in rehabilitation after ACL-R.

AB - Introduction: While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are commonly managed with ACL reconstruction (ACL-R), 35% of ACL-R individuals fail to return to the preinjury elite sport level. Persistent neuromuscular deficits in the hamstrings and quadriceps have been observed. It has been proposed that aquatic therapy can be used to optimize neuromuscular control after ACL-R. Objectives: (1) To compare muscle activity in ACL-R individuals during aquatic treadmill (ATM) running at different water depths and (2) to compare muscle activity during ATM running between ACL-R and healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 38 participants, including 18 ACL-R individuals (mean postoperative time [SD] = 25.8 [25.0] mo) and 20 healthy individuals were recruited. Muscle activity of biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius during land treadmill and ATM running at mid-shin, mid-thigh, and waist levels were recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG). The sEMG signals of the selected muscles were normalized and expressed in % Maximal Voluntary Contraction (%MVC). Muscle activity of the ACL-R, ACL-contralateral, and healthy control limbs at different water depths was compared. Results: Among the 3 groups, the ACL-R group demonstrated the most prominent percentage increase of 101.97% (P = .001) at mid-shin level, 139.66% (P = .001) at mid-thigh level, and 141.97% (P < .001) at waist level, respectively, in %MVC when compared to land. In the ACL-R group, muscle activity of BF in the stance phase (BFSt) was significantly higher than the control group on land at all water depths. Muscle activity of RF in the swing phase (RFSw) in the ACL-R group significantly increased in all water depths immersion when compared to land, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed an increasing trend in muscle activity of BFSt and RFSw in ACL-R individuals during ATM running at increased water depths. ATM running could be implemented as neuromuscular training in rehabilitation after ACL-R.

KW - electromyography

KW - muscle activation

KW - neuromuscular training

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DO - 10.1123/jsr.2021-0431

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M1 - 10.1123/jsr.2021-0431

ER -

Lower-Limb Muscle Activity During Aquatic Treadmill Running in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

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