Proprioceptive deficit in individuals with unilateral tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament after active evaluation of the sense of joint position

Abstract

r e v b r a s o r t o p . 2 0 1 4;4 9(6):607–612 w w w . r b o . o r g . b r a b s t r a c t Objective: To ascertain whether the proprioceptive deficit in the sense of joint position con-tinues to be present when patients with a limb presenting a deficient anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are assessed by testing their active reproduction of joint position, in com-parison with the contralateral limb. Methods: Twenty patients with unilateral ACL tearing participated in the study. Their active reproduction of joint position in the limb with the deficient ACL and in the healthy con-tralateral limb was tested. Meta-positions of 20% and 50% of the maximum joint range of motion were used. Proprioceptive performance was determined through the values of the absolute error, variable error and constant error. Results: Significant differences in absolute error were found at both of the positions evalu-ated, and in constant error at 50% of the maximum joint range of motion. Conclusion: When evaluated in terms of absolute error, the proprioceptive deficit contin-ues to be present even when an active evaluation of the sense of joint position is made. Consequently, this sense involves activity of both intramuscular and tendon receptors. Este é um artigo Open Access sob a licença de CC BY-NC-ND Este é um artigo Open Access sob a licença de CC BY-NC-ND