Association between quadriceps muscle thickness and knee function in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed athletes: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association between vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness and quadriceps isokinetic strength, single-leg hop performance, and self-reported knee function in male athletes who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Methods

Forty-two male athletes [mean ± standard deviation, age: 21.4 ± 3.4 years], who had undergone ACLR and had cleared to return to activity, were included in this study. Real-time ultrasound images of VMO, RF, and VL thicknesses were obtained from both reconstructed and contralateral limbs. Concentric quadriceps peak torque at 60°/s and 180°/s, single-leg hop for Distance (SLHD), and self-reported knee function scores were also assessed. Linear regression analysis and student t tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

In reconstructed limb, greater VMO, RF, and VL thicknesses were associated with greater quadriceps peak torque at 60°/s (p = .008, r² = 0.46) and at 180°/s (p = .006, r² = 0.47). Greater quadriceps thickness was related to greater SLHD score in reconstructed limb (p = .002, r² = 0.21). Self-reported knee function scores were not related to quadriceps thickness. VMO, RF, and VL thicknesses were smaller in reconstructed limb compared to contralateral limb (p < .001, p = .01, and p = .002, respectively).

Conclusion

Quadriceps thickness by using ultrasound was associated with concentric quadriceps strength and single-leg hop distance in individuals who had undergone ACLR. However, quadriceps thickness was not related to self-reported knee function. The ultrasonography may be included in the evaluation of the knee function after ACLR, and it may be a useful and easy method in the follow-up of the quadriceps strength recovery following ACLR.

KEYWORDS:

• Ultrasound
• knee joint
• single-leg hop
• quadriceps strength

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.