Dynamic stability in the anterior cruciate ligament deficient knee

Some individuals can stabilize their knees following anterior cruciate liga ment rupture even during activities involving cutting and pivoting (copers) , others have instability with daily activities (non-copers). Movement and muscle activation patterns of 11 copers, ten non-copers and ten uninjured s ubjects were studied during walking and jogging. Results indicate that dist inct gait adaptations appeared primarily in the non-copers. Copers used joi nt ranges of motion, moments and muscle activation patterns similar to unin jured subjects. Non-copers reduced their knee motion, and external knee fle xion moments that correlated well with quadriceps strength. Non-copers also achieved peak hamstring activity later in the weight acceptance phase and used a strategy involving more generalized co-contraction. Both copers and non-copers had high levels of quadriceps femoris muscle activity. The reduc ed knee moment in the involved limbs of the non-copers did not represent "q uadriceps avoidance" but rather represented a strategy of general co-contra ction with a greater relative contribution from the hamstring muscles.