Neuromuscular Rehab for ACL Reconstruction: Knee Function & Brain Plasticity

The Impact of Neuromuscular Rehabilitation on Knee Function and Brain Plasticity in Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Reconstruction

This study focuses on patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and reconstruction, aiming to systematically investigate the clinical efficacy and underlying mechanisms of neuromuscular training in restoring knee joint function.Beyond examining improvements in local knee biomechanics, the research delves into brain plasticity changes during rehabilitation to reveal the central regulatory mechanisms of neuromuscular control.The findings are expected to provide a solid theoretical and empirical foundation for optimizing post-ACL rehabilitation strategies, fostering interdisciplinary integration from peripheral interventions to neural central regulation.

In the field of sports medicine, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common yet severe sports-related condition with significant consequences. Patients exhibit considerable variation in knee functional recovery following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Although neuromuscular training serves as an effective rehabilitation intervention, its mechanistic underpinnings remain incompletely elucidated, and the relationship between brain plasticity and functional recovery of the knee joint has not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, this study focuses on patients with ACL rupture and reconstruction, aiming to elucidate the specific mechanisms through which neuromuscular training contributes to the restoration of neuromuscular function in patients following ACL rupture and reconstruction, with particular emphasis on its effects on brain plasticity and neuromuscular control. It will systematically investigate the dynamic changes in brain functional plasticity and their underlying mechanisms throughout the rehabilitation process post-ACL injury and reconstruction. By uncovering the operational mechanisms of neuromuscular training in injury prevention and rehabilitation, this research will provide new empirical evidence to advance the theoretical framework of sports rehabilitation.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥18.5 kg/m² and <35 kg/m²;
2. Diagnosed with first-time, unilateral, isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture ;
3. No or only mild concomitant injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, or lateral collateral ligament;
4. Voluntarily participated in the study and provided written informed consent .

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with ACL rupture for more than 6 months;
2. Combined severe injuries (Grade II or higher) to the posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, or lateral collateral ligament(Grading Note: Grade II indicates partial tear with ligament thickening, tortuosity, and fiber disruption; Grade III indicates complete rupture);OR combined severe meniscal tears ;
3. History of prior knee surgery (e.g., meniscal repair, ligament reconstruction, arthroplasty, arthroscopic debridement);
4. Presence of other knee pathologies: knee osteoarthritis, tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, infectious or inflammatory diseases, fractures, dislocations, or other skeletal injuries;
5. Severe cardiac, pulmonary, cerebral, hepatic, or renal dysfunction; OR visual/cognitive impairments.