PEDAL FORCES DURING CYCLING IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE UNILATERAL ACL RUPTURE

Abstract

The aim of this study was to measure the pedal forces during cycling on the injured and non-injured limb in patients with acute unilateral ACL rupture. 5 male patients cycled at intensities of 60, 100, 140, 180, 220 and 260 W. Three-dimensional pedal forces were collected and peak values for vertical and anterior-posterior pedal force were identified for each leg over 20 revolutions. The peak vertical pedal forces are decreased between 2% and 11% for the injured limb compared to the non-injured one. Peak anterior-posterior pedal forces reveal relative differences of -5% and 8% between the two legs. The measuring setup allows for individual diagnosis of the cycling pattern in patients with ruptured ACL and might give information for the rehabilitation process.