Changes of electroencephalography power spectrum during joint position perception test after anterior cruciate ligament rupture

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To measure the electroencephalography (EEG) of the patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture when performing joint position perception movement task, to compare the differences between the ACL rupture side and the unaffected side, to identify the EEG change in the power spectrum caused by the ACL rupture, and to provide evidence for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabi-litation for ACL injury as well as knee instability. METHODS Sixteen male patients, selected from the Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital from November 2014 to April 2015, with only ACL rupture on one side used isokinetic muscle strength testing equipment were enrolled in the study to perform unilateral active knee joint positional movement and passive knee joint positional movement tasks. EEG was recorded to compare between the affected and unaffected limb of ACL rupture patients when doing single leg movement tasks, including passive knee joint position test and active knee joint position sensation test. The target position of the active knee joint position movement task and the passive knee joint position movement task was 30 degrees of knee flexion. RESULTS During the passive knee joint position test, there was no significant difference in EEG power spectrum of Delta[F (1, 15)=0.003, P=0.957, ηP2 =0.001], Theta[F (1, 15)=0.002, P=0.962, ηP2 < 0.001], Alpha[F (1, 15)=0.002, P=0.966, ηP2 =0.001], Beta[F (1, 15)=0.008, P=0.929, ηP2 =0.001] at Fz, Cz, and Pz between the affected and unaffected limbs in the ACL patients. During the active knee joint position movement task, the EEG power spectrum of Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta at Fz and Cz location, on the affected side was significant higher than on the unaffected side. CONCLUSION This study compared the differences between the ACL rupture side and the unaffected side during active knee position movement task and passive knee position movement task, and identifyied the EEG changes in the power spectrum caused by the ACL rupture, It was found that the central changes caused by unilateral ACL rupture still existed during contralateral (unaffected) side movement. The EEG power spectrum of the affected side during active exercise was significantly higher than that of the unaffected side This study provides new electrophysiological evidence for the study of ACL injury.