Interlimb asymmetry in persons with and without an anterior cruciate ligament deficiency during stationary cycling.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the power output generation from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured and noninjured limbs during stationary cycling.


METHODS
Repeated measures.


METHODS
Research laboratory.


METHODS
Ten people with unilateral ACL deficiency and 10 uninjured controls matched for age and sex.


METHODS
Participants performed 6 randomized bouts of stationary cycling at intensities of 2 cadences (60, 90 rpm) and 3 power outputs (75, 125, 175 W) for approximately 2 minutes for each bout during a single laboratory visit.


METHODS
The effective component of force (perpendicular to the crank) was measured and used to calculate the power output contribution from each limb to the total power output.


RESULTS
Subjects with ACL injury generated significantly more power from uninjured limbs compared with that from injured limbs and the limbs of control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that people with ACL injury have a reduced total output from the injured limb and rely on the uninjured limb for most of the power output. This may compromise the ability to restore lower-limb muscle strength after injury.
Hunt
Michael A
MA
School of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Sanderson
David J
DJ
Moffet
Hélène
H
Inglis
J Timothy
JT
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019415:Torque