Neuromuscular Intervention Targeted to Mechanisms of ACL Load in Female Athletes

Importance of the problem. Second ACL injury, whether it is an insult to the ipsilateral graft or the contralateral ligament, is a growing problem after reconstruction. Besides missing an additional year of athletic participation, increasing health care costs, and increased psychological distress, re-injury and subsequent revision surgery have significantly worse outcomes compared with those after initial reconstruction. Second injuries have been reported to occur at a rate of 1 of 17 (6%) within the first two years of surgery. However, a second tear prevalence of 29% has been reported. This is substantially higher than initial ACL injuries, reported to occur at a rate of 1 in 60 to 100. Risk factors for second injury include younger athletes 6 who return to high-level sporting activities early. Both sexes are at risk for second ACL injury, with women reported as having higher risk of contralateral injury, and men having an increased risk of ipsilateral injury. Thus, it is critical to include both sexes in second ACL injury prevention programs.

Improvement in scientific knowledge and clinical practice: Patients have differential responses after ACL injury, including their functional abilities, movement biomechanics, neuromuscular performance, and quadriceps strength. Building from our prior funded work, the investigators propose to prospectively evaluate these varying patient characteristics in an attempt to identify distinct groups with differing levels of risk for second injury (Aim 1). Our previous work revealed that there were three risk groups among uninjured female athletes. The significance of identification of patient groups with distinct needs is profound. Prospective identification of at-risk patients who are the most appropriate recipients of enhanced treatment will likely reduce second ACL risk, and yield a more efficacious delivery of health care resources after ACLR. The Cincinnati group described this differentiation in ACL deficient patients as the 'rule of thirds,' with one third of patients able to function without limitations and not needing to undergo surgical stabilization, one third adapting their activity level without surgery, and one third requiring surgery to perform daily activities without knee instability. A classification scheme described by the University of Delaware also differentiates ACL deficient patients into groups of thirds including copers (no limit in abilities), non-copers (unable to function without knee instability) or potential copers (individuals who have the potential to function without ACLR). There is evidence these differences in functional abilities and movement characteristics persist after ACLR. A randomized clinical trial concluded individuals who exhibit poor knee stability and function after injury may require additional time to return to pre-injury functional levels. In addition, some may be unable to develop appropriate quadriceps strength symmetry to support a return to high-level sports. These data indicate not all patients experience the same magnitude or duration of impairments and symptoms after ACLR. Consequently, multiple post-operative rehabilitation strategies may be necessary to facilitate optimum patient care and outcomes.

Working from the rule of one-thirds, identification of distinct patient groups with unique needs after surgery is a novel approach for integration of optimum second injury prevention strategies. Primary-injury risk factors provide an important window into the underlying biomechanical and neuromuscular deficits that may persist after ACL injury and reconstruction. Using a statistical analysis clustering technique, distinct groups with relative risk for first-time ACL injury have been identified, including low, moderate and high risk groups. Single limb postural stability combined with biomechanical variables including vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), frontal plane hip adduction moment minimum, and pelvis angle during drop jump landings were identified as significant contributors to frontal plane knee loading, a surrogate for ACL injury risk. This work has demonstrated the existence of discernable groups of athletes that are more appropriate for targeted neuromuscular training (TNMT) intervention to prevent first-time ACL injury.

Factors that contribute to primary ACL injury risk provide an important window into the underlying deficits that may persist after ACL injury and reconstruction. Age and activity level are significant factors, as young active individuals are the most likely cohort to sustain a second ACL rupture. Surgical factors include decreased graft size, use of allograft tissue, vertical graft position, and a lax graft. Anatomical risk factors may also contribute to ACL injury risk and include an increase in the posterior-inferior lateral tibial plateau slope and decreased notch width. Genetic factors also likely play a role. While it is encouraging that so many potential factors have been identified which may contribute to second ACL injury risk, none of these factors can be modified through non-surgical intervention. Modifiable biomechanical and neuromuscular measures associated with second ACL injury have been identified. Previous work by our laboratory included a prospective clinical trial, athletes who had undergone ACLR underwent testing before a return to pivoting and cutting sports. Thirteen athletes sustained a subsequent injury. Specific injury predictive parameters identified during testing included a net internal rotation moment of the uninvolved hip, an increase in total frontal plane knee movement, greater asymmetry in internal knee extensor moment at initial contact, and deficits in single-leg postural stability of the involved limb. These parameters predicted second injury in this population with excellent sensitivity (0.92) and specificity (0.88).

Differences in functional abilities after ACLR may be differentiated by more than biomechanical and neuromuscular characteristics. Clinically measured muscle weakness may persist for years after ACLR. Quadriceps strength is strongly related to measurements of knee function in athletes who have undergone ACLR. While hamstrings strength alone may not show a significant effect on knee function following ACL injury and reconstruction, hamstrings activation may be an important component in neuromuscular control of the reconstructed knee, especially in females, who tend to be 'quadriceps dominant'. In addition, deficits in the hamstrings-quadriceps torque production ratio also appear to be a key variable in the primary ACL injury risk model. The relationship between muscle weakness and differential risk for second injury has not been established. An understanding of the interplay may, however, be critical to the development of effective, group-specific intervention programs and reduction of second-injury risk.

It is currently unknown if biomechanical and clinical measures may effectively discern groups of patients who are at greatest risk for second ACL injury. Evaluation of movement mechanics and clinical characteristics, including strength, limb stability and self-reported function, at the time a patient initiates sports-specific training may yield insight to differential responses after ACLR. If distinct patient groups are identified, this information may be used to provide differentiated interventions based on risk for second injury. In Aim 2 of this proposal, the investigators will evaluate the effects of differential rehabilitation interventions. Our Exploratory Aim will be the initial step in translating the biomechanics-based, group algorithm into a clinical application for individualized categorization of risk. The results of this work may instigate a paradigm shift in treatment, and promote a more efficacious utilization of healthcare resources by providing enhanced care to those patients who are at greatest risk for secondary injury.

Impact on patient care. One of the factors that contributes to second ACL injury is incomplete or ineffective rehabilitation. Aberrant neuromuscular and biomechanical patterns are commonly seen up to 2 years after ACLR and may help explain the high rate of second ACL injury. Deficits in the neuromuscular control of both lower extremities following ACLR have been directly implicated in the risk for second ACL injury and may not only be a result of the initial knee injury and subsequent surgery, but may also characterize the athlete's pre-injury movement patterns. Therefore, identification and subsequent targeted treatment of aberrant post-ACLR movement patterns for both limbs are critical not only to maximize functional recovery but also to reduce the risk for second ACL injury. Though neuromuscular training programs result in a 73.4% decreased risk of a non-contact primary-ACL injury compared to those who do not participate in neuromuscular training, the efficacy of similar programs for reduction of second-ACL injury risk has not been examined.

An evidence-based targeted neuromuscular training (TNMT) program has been designed to prevent second ACL injury. This training program was developed with consideration to modifiable factors related to second-injury risk, the principles of motor learning, and careful selection of the exercises that may most effectively modify aberrant neuromuscular programs. In Aims 2 and 3 of this competing renewal proposal the investigators will evaluate the effects of differential treatment interventions. Notably, the investigators will assess the effectiveness of TNMT, including the utilization of visual and verbal biofeedback. Validation of this evidence-based, late-phase TNMT program may significantly impact clinical practice patterns through its integration in rehabilitation settings, and serve as a critical factor in reduction of second injury risk. Ultimately, determining if less intensive HOME and STAN training programs are effective interventions for patients who are at reduced risk for second ACL injury may prove to be a tremendous time and cost savings for patients and the health-care system.