Abstract
1/2012
vol. 29
Original paper
STRATEGY OF VISUAL PROPRIOCEPTIVE
CONTROL IN PATIENTS WITH INJURY TO
THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT OF
THE KNEE AND HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS
(SOCCER PLAYERS)
Biol. Sport 2012;29:57-62
Online publish date: 2014/08/22
Objective: Knee joint dysfunction resulting from injury to the anterior crucial ligament (ACL) is associated
not only with mechanical joint instability but also with damage of ligamentous receptors responsible for the joint
proprioception. It was found that disturbances of signals from the damaged joint produce disorders in movement
perception and position of the analogous joint in the normal limb. This study is aimed at evaluating the control
strategy in patients with an injury to the anterior crucial ligament.Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
Subjects/Patients- 84 men, aged 15 to 55 years (mean age 27 years) were included in this study. Methods- Patients
were divided into two groups: those with unilateral injury to the ACL (33 patients) and a control group of healthy
volunteers (soccer players; 51 men). Anterior crucial ligament damage was confirmed with arthroscopic knee joint
examination in every patient. The way of visual proprioceptive control was assessed with both dynamic (DRT) and
static (SRT) Riva tests standing on one leg. Tests were performed with the Delos Postural Proprioceptive System
(Delos s.r.l., Corso Lecce, Torino, Italy) in the biomechanical evaluation laboratory at Rehasport Clinic in Poznań.
Results: A statistically significant difference for deviations from the averaged axis in SRT (static Riva test) with
closed eyes was found between the limb with a damaged ACL and the normal limb in the group of patients with
injury to the ACL (p=0.006) and between the limb with a damaged ACL and normal limbs in healthy volunteers
(p=0.022). A statistically significant difference for deviations from the averaged axis in SRT with closed eyes was
also found between the dominant and non-dominant limb in healthy volunteers (p=0.013). No significant differences
in the results of tests with open eyes were noted. Conclusions: The results of systems and their contribution to
the visual proprioceptive control suggest an important role of the visual system in compensation of archeproprioceptive
system disorders resulting from injury to the ACL. Clinical Relevance: Neurological deficits of proprioceptive
perception, associated with injury to the ACL and affecting the balance, may be noted only in the results of tests
performed with closed eyes.
not only with mechanical joint instability but also with damage of ligamentous receptors responsible for the joint
proprioception. It was found that disturbances of signals from the damaged joint produce disorders in movement
perception and position of the analogous joint in the normal limb. This study is aimed at evaluating the control
strategy in patients with an injury to the anterior crucial ligament.Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
Subjects/Patients- 84 men, aged 15 to 55 years (mean age 27 years) were included in this study. Methods- Patients
were divided into two groups: those with unilateral injury to the ACL (33 patients) and a control group of healthy
volunteers (soccer players; 51 men). Anterior crucial ligament damage was confirmed with arthroscopic knee joint
examination in every patient. The way of visual proprioceptive control was assessed with both dynamic (DRT) and
static (SRT) Riva tests standing on one leg. Tests were performed with the Delos Postural Proprioceptive System
(Delos s.r.l., Corso Lecce, Torino, Italy) in the biomechanical evaluation laboratory at Rehasport Clinic in Poznań.
Results: A statistically significant difference for deviations from the averaged axis in SRT (static Riva test) with
closed eyes was found between the limb with a damaged ACL and the normal limb in the group of patients with
injury to the ACL (p=0.006) and between the limb with a damaged ACL and normal limbs in healthy volunteers
(p=0.022). A statistically significant difference for deviations from the averaged axis in SRT with closed eyes was
also found between the dominant and non-dominant limb in healthy volunteers (p=0.013). No significant differences
in the results of tests with open eyes were noted. Conclusions: The results of systems and their contribution to
the visual proprioceptive control suggest an important role of the visual system in compensation of archeproprioceptive
system disorders resulting from injury to the ACL. Clinical Relevance: Neurological deficits of proprioceptive
perception, associated with injury to the ACL and affecting the balance, may be noted only in the results of tests
performed with closed eyes.
Keywords
ACL injury, proprioception, postural control
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