A SIMPLE OUTPATIENT TEST FOR PROPRIOCEPTION IN THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT-DEFICIENT KNEE

Proprioception was quantified in 32 patients who had an arthroscopical ly documented complete anterior cruciate ligament tear using a simple single-limb standing test. An age-matched control group underwent iden tical testing. control subjects demonstrated identical values between their two limbs, with the mean variation being 4.8%. The test group, h owever, showed significantly higher mean values for the injured compar ed with the noninjured limb, the mean variation being 43.8%. Patients who have a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament may experie nce a decline in proprioceptive function of their knees. this can be t ested clinically using a simple single-limb standing test in an outpat ient setting.