Changes in weight-bearing following injury or surgical reconstruction of the ACL: relationship to quadriceps strength and function.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in weight-bearing an average of 1.5 months after ACL injury (ACLD) and up to 3 months after surgical reconstruction (ACLR) were investigated using a force platform. Correlations between force platform test variables, quadriceps strength and functional self-report scores were also examined.


RESULTS
Each force platform test revealed impaired weight-bearing by either ACLD and/or ACLR subjects. Many variables were correlated to quadriceps strength; therefore, improved strength in ACLR subjects by 6 weeks post-operative negated any weight-bearing impairment. No single force platform variable correlated with the subjects' perception of function.


CONCLUSIONS
Only the step up/over test provided insight into disability in these patients. Modification of force platform analysis programs may allow for other clinical questions to be answered.
Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, 301 McKinly Lab, Newark, DE 19716, USA. tchm@udel.edu
Terese L
TL
Chmielewski
Kevin E
KE
Wilk
Lynn
L
Snyder-Mackler
D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception; D016474:Weight-Bearing