EFFECTS OF A MANUAL THERAPY ON TIBIOFEMORAL JOINT FORCES IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the acute effects of the manual therapy RegentK on tibiofemoral joint forces and lower limb muscle forces in patients with an acute unilateral ACL rupture. Eight patients with an acute ACL rupture were recruited. Tibiofemoral joint forces and quadriceps, hamstring and gastrocnemius muscle forces were analysed during walking pre and immediately post the one time intervention using a musculoskeletal model.Results showed that tibiofemoral joint loading and muscle forces were altered in the injured compared to the uninjured limb, but no significant effect of the intervention could be shown. Joint and muscle force patterns, however, were highly individual. For future analyses the comparison with a matched-control group and the use of different methods to detect waveform-changes are recommended.