Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging of proximal and distal hamstrings cross sectional area in individuals with history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

ABSTRACT

Background

Ultrasound (US) imaging is used by physical therapists for diagnosis and assessment of musculoskeletal injury and follow-up

Purpose

The aim was to identify long-term effects of graft harvesting on hamstrings muscle mass among athletes who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Methods

Twenty-eight participants (ages 18–55) were recruited: 18 with history of ACLR using semitendinosus (ST) autograft and 10 healthy controls. Images of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of ST and biceps femoris (BF) were captured at 30% and 70% of the distance from the ischial tuberosity to the popliteal crease. A mixed model ANOVA was used to identify inter-limb differences in the CSA of ST and BF at each location, for each group

Results

Inter-limb differences were found for the CSA of ST but not BF across both locations for the ACLR group, not controls (p < .001). Within the ACLR group, ST atrophy of the injured limb was relatively greater at the distal vs. proximal location (p < .001).

Conclusion

US imaging identified selective atrophy of ST on the injured side with no compensatory hypertrophy of BF. Specific rehabilitation may influence muscle mass of medial vs. lateral hamstrings muscle groups after ACLR using a ST graft, and monitored with US imaging.

KEYWORDS:

• Muscle morphology
• semitendinosus
• biceps femoris
• atrophy

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Guðni Rafn Harðarson during subject recruitment and data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Iceland Research Fund.