Gamma loop dysfunction in the quadriceps femoris of patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction remains bilaterally

Abstract

Purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair on the gamma loop of the bilateral quadriceps femoris (QF). Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of knee extension and integrated electromyogram (I-EMG) of vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) were examined in uninjured and injured limbs of 18 patients and 10 normal subjects, before and after 20-min vibration applied to the QF. Mean percentage changes were calculated as: (pre-vibration value-post-vibration value)/pre-vibration value x 100. Patients were divided into two groups: short-term-group (tested </=12 months after ACL repair, n=8), long-term-group (tested >/=18 months after ACL repair, n=10). Mean percentage changes of the four groups were compared with those of controls. Results indicated that changes of MVC and I-EMG on the uninjured and injured sides in short-term-group in response to vibration were significantly different from those of controls. There were no significant differences between uninjured sides in long-term and control groups. MVC and I-EMG of VM and RF of injured side in patients in the long-term-group in response to vibration were not different from those of controls. From these results, we concluded that this abnormality of the gamma loop in both injured and uninjured sides did not recover despite ACL reconstruction. However, the abnormality in uninjured side might recover >/=18 months after repair.