Hamstring Co-Contraction in the Early Stage of Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE: Hamstring co-contraction may affect recovery from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in hamstring co-contraction during the early postoperative stages.

DESIGN: Twenty-five patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were followed up for 1-3 mos postoperatively, during which the Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee questionnaires were completed and surface electromyograms were assessed during terminal knee extension maximum voluntary contraction and step-up tests. The integrated electromyogram of the tested muscles and co-contraction ratio were analyzed.

RESULTS: Co-contraction ratio during terminal knee extension maximum voluntary contraction at 3 mos postoperatively was significantly less than that at 1 mo postoperatively (P < 0.0083), and it did not significantly differ from that of the uninvolved knee. In contrast, the co-contraction ratio during step-up was significantly higher at 2 and 3 mos postoperatively than that before surgery (P < 0.0167) and for the uninvolved knee (P < 0.05). Moreover, the postoperative hamstring co-contraction ratio in patients with a chronic injury was significantly higher during the step-up test than in patients with an early injury (P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS: Hamstring co-contraction ratio during terminal knee extension maximum voluntary contraction recovers during the early postoperative stages. However, hamstring co-contraction ratio during step-up, which may be related to knee joint proprioception, remains high, particularly for patients with a chronic injury.

CLINICAL TRIAL: ChiCTR-COC-17011167.