Work

Influence of Running Speed and Time Postoperatively on Lower Extremity Work in Collegiate Athletes after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), individuals present with significant and persistent deficits in surgical knee biomechanics during running. Little is known regarding the role of the hip and ankle in compensating for these knee-specific deficits. The purpose of this study was to characterize how limb (surgical and nonsurgical), time postoperatively (3.5-7 months [EARLY], 8-13 months [LATE]), and running speed influence lower extremity joint-specific and total work during running post-ACLR. METHODS: Fifty-six Division I collegiate athletes post-ACLR (EARLY: n = 41; LATE: n = 42; both: n = 27) completed running analyses at 2.68, 2.95, 3.35, 3.80, and 4.47 m·s -1 or up to their maximum comfortable speed. Linear mixed effects models assessed the influence of limb, speed, time post-ACLR, and their interactions on hip, knee, ankle, and total negative work and positive work. RESULTS: Surgical limb hip positive work was greater (0.044 J·kg -1 [95% CI = 0.015-0.074], P < 0.001) than the nonsurgical limb EARLY. Surgical limb ankle negative (-0.054 J·kg -1 [-0.093 to -0.015], P = 0.003) and positive work (-0.115 J·kg -1 [-0.168 to -0.063], P < 0.001) were less than the nonsurgical limb EARLY. Surgical limb knee negative (EARLY: -0.339 J·kg -1 [-0.382 to -0.296], P < 0.001; LATE: -0.222 J·kg -1 [-0.265 to -0.180], P < 0.001) and positive work (EARLY: -0.214 J·kg -1 [-0.246 to -0.182], P < 0.001; LATE: -0.142 J·kg -1 [-0.174 to -0.110], P < 0.001) were less than the nonsurgical limb. Total negative work and positive work followed the same pattern as the knee. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes post-ACLR exhibited greater hip positive work and lesser ankle positive work and negative work during running of the surgical limb EARLY, which resolved LATE. Both knee and total negative work and positive work of the surgical limb were substantially less than the nonsurgical limb, which improved from EARLY to LATE, but between-limb asymmetries remained.

Source: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003695

Authors: KEITH A. KNURR, DANIEL G. COBIAN, STEPHANIE A. KLIETHERMES, MIKEL R. JOACHIM, BRYAN C. HEIDERSCHEIT

Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison

Language: English

Topic: Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging