Table 1_Functional deficits after anterior cruciate ligament injury are associated with altered neuromuscular control: a cross-sectional study.pdf

Group and sex comparisons, Spearman correlations, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Study design: Cross-sectional study; Level of Evidence: III.</p>Results<p>Affected-limb extension peak torque was lowest in the acute group and remained lower in the chronic group than in controls for both male participants (2.23 ± 0.64, 3.05 ± 0.60, and 3.48 ± 0.59 N⋅m⋅kg^–1, respectively) and female participants (1.51 ± 0.58, 2.21 ± 0.61, and 3.05 ± 0.56 N⋅m⋅kg^–1; all P ≤ 0.001).

Combined hamstring coactivation was greater in ACL-injured participants and highest in the chronic group (male: 14.32 ± 4.91%, 23.05 ± 5.87%, and 7.89 ± 4.34%; female: 27.18 ± 5.25%, 41.28 ± 6.34%, and 16.54 ± 5.28%; all P < 0.001). Extension average peak torque correlated positively with all KOOS subscales (r = 0.381–0.562), whereas combined hamstring coactivation correlated negatively with all KOOS subscales (r = −0.326 to −0.541; P < 0.05).</p>Conclusion<p>ACL injury was associated with lower knee strength and greater antagonist coactivation, with distinct patterns according to injury chronicity.

Strength deficits were most pronounced in patients with acute ACL injury, whereas antagonist coactivation was generally greatest in patients with chronic ACL injury. Greater hamstring coactivation and lower knee extension torque were associated with worse patient-reported knee function.</p>