Interlimb asymmetry in persons with and without an anterior cruciate ligament deficiency during stationary cycling.

Abstract

To investigate the power output generation from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured and noninjured limbs during stationary cycling. Repeated measures. Research laboratory. Ten people with unilateral ACL deficiency and 10 uninjured controls matched for age and sex. Participants performed 6 randomized bouts of stationary cycling at intensities of 2 cadences (60, 90 rpm) and 3 power outputs (75, 125, 175 W) for approximately 2 minutes for each bout during a single laboratory visit. The effective component of force (perpendicular to the crank) was measured and used to calculate the power output contribution from each limb to the total power output. Subjects with ACL injury generated significantly more power from uninjured limbs compared with that from injured limbs and the limbs of control subjects. Results suggest that people with ACL injury have a reduced total output from the injured limb and rely on the uninjured limb for most of the power output. This may compromise the ability to restore lower-limb muscle strength after injury.