Jr. Steele et Jmm. Brown, Effects of chronic anterior cruciate ligament deficiency on muscle activation patterns during an abrupt deceleration task, CLIN BIOMEC, 14(4), 1999, pp. 247-257
Objective. This study examined the influence of chronic anterior cruciate l
igament deficiency on muscle activation patterns displayed during abrupt de
celeration, relative to timing of tibiofemoral shear forces (F-S) generated
during the task.
Design. Experimental data were collected for both limbs of 11 chronic funct
ional anterior cruciate ligament deficient subjects and 11 matched controls
.
Methods. Electromyographic, high speed film and ground reaction force data
were sampled as subjects landed in single-limb stance on a force platform a
fter receiving a chest level pass and decelerating abruptly. Temporal chara
cteristics of each muscle burst relative to initial foot-ground contact wer
e derived and F-S were calculated from net joint reaction forces and the pa
tellar tendon force occasioned by the net moments and inertial forces predi
cted about the knee.
Results. Compared to controls, anterior cruciate ligament deficient subject
s displayed a delay in hamstring activation so that peak hamstring activity
was more synchronous with initial contact and with the high F-S which occu
rred after initial contact.
Conclusions. It was concluded the delayed hamstring activation was an adapt
ation developed to enable peak muscle activity to better coincide with the
high anterior F-S, thereby stabilizing the injured limb against a giving-wa
y episode via increased joint compression and posterior tibial drawer.