Harput Gulcan, Demirci Serdar, Soylu Abdullah Ruhi, Bayrakci Tunay Volga
Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Balıkesir University, Bigadic, Turkey.
Physiother Theory Pract. 2023 Oct 3;39(10):2171-2179. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2068096. Epub 2022 Apr 20.
This study aimed to investigate the association between vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness and quadriceps isokinetic strength, single-leg hop performance, and self-reported knee function in male athletes who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).
Forty-two male athletes [mean ± standard deviation, age: 21.4 ± 3.4 years], who had undergone ACLR and had cleared to return to activity, were included in this study. Real-time ultrasound images of VMO, RF, and VL thicknesses were obtained from both reconstructed and contralateral limbs. Concentric quadriceps peak torque at 60°/s and 180°/s, single-leg hop for Distance (SLHD), and self-reported knee function scores were also assessed. Linear regression analysis and student t tests were used for statistical analysis.
In reconstructed limb, greater VMO, RF, and VL thicknesses were associated with greater quadriceps peak torque at 60°/s (p = .008, r = 0.46) and at 180°/s (p = .006, r = 0.47). Greater quadriceps thickness was related to greater SLHD score in reconstructed limb (p = .002, r = 0.21). Self-reported knee function scores were not related to quadriceps thickness. VMO, RF, and VL thicknesses were smaller in reconstructed limb compared to contralateral limb (p < .001, p = .01, and p = .002, respectively).
Quadriceps thickness by using ultrasound was associated with concentric quadriceps strength and single-leg hop distance in individuals who had undergone ACLR. However, quadriceps thickness was not related to self-reported knee function. The ultrasonography may be included in the evaluation of the knee function after ACLR, and it may be a useful and easy method in the follow-up of the quadriceps strength recovery following ACLR.
本研究旨在调查前交叉韧带重建（ACLR）后的男性运动员股内侧斜肌（VMO）、股直肌（RF）和股外侧肌（VL）的肌肉厚度与股四头肌等速肌力、单腿跳成绩及自我报告的膝关节功能之间的关联。
本研究纳入了42名接受过ACLR且已获准恢复运动的男性运动员[平均±标准差，年龄：21.4±3.4岁]。从重建肢体和对侧肢体获取VMO、RF和VL厚度的实时超声图像。还评估了股四头肌在60°/秒和180°/秒时的向心峰值扭矩、单腿跳远距离（SLHD）以及自我报告的膝关节功能评分。采用线性回归分析和学生t检验进行统计分析。
在重建肢体中，VMO、RF和VL厚度越大，股四头肌在60°/秒（p = 0.008，r = 0.46）和180°/秒（p = 0.006，r = 0.47）时的峰值扭矩越大。股四头肌厚度越大，重建肢体的SLHD评分越高（p = 0.002，r = 0.21）。自我报告的膝关节功能评分与股四头肌厚度无关。与对侧肢体相比，重建肢体的VMO、RF和VL厚度更小（分别为p < 0.001、p = 0.01和p = 0.002）。
对于接受过ACLR的个体，通过超声测量的股四头肌厚度与股四头肌向心力量和单腿跳远距离相关。然而，股四头肌厚度与自我报告的膝关节功能无关。超声检查可纳入ACLR后膝关节功能的评估中，并且在ACLR后股四头肌力量恢复的随访中可能是一种有用且简便的方法。
