Effects of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury on Muscle Activity of Head, Neck and Trunk Muscles: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation

Abstract

This study evaluated the that effects a pathology of the knee, due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, has on muscular activity of neck, head, and trunk muscles. Twenty-five (25) subjects (mean age 28±9 years) with ACL injury of the left knee were compared with a control no-pathology group. Surface electromyography (sEMG) at mandibular rest position and maximal voluntary clenching (MVC) wasused to evaluate muscular activity of the areas: masseter, anterior temporalis, posterior cervicals, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and upper and lower trapezius. The sEMG activity of each muscle, as well as the asymmetry index between the right and the left sides, were compared between the two groups. Subjects in the study group showed a significant increase in the asymmetry index of the sEMG activity of the anterior temporalis at mandibular rest position (p<0.05). At rest, the areas of anterior temporalis and masseter in the control group showed a significantly lower sEMG activity compared with subjects in the study group, both in the right and the left sides (p<0.05). The same was found for the sEMG activity of the areas of SCM and lower trapezius. At MVC, the right areas of anterior temporalis and masseter in the study subjects showed a significantly lower sEMG activity compared with the control group. The same was observed for the lower trapezius area, both in the right and the left sides. In general, ACL injury appears to provide a change in the sEMG activity of head, neck and trunk muscles.

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Notes on contributors

Simona Tecco

Dr. Simona Tecco received her D.D.S. degree in 1999 from the faculty of Dentistry, University of Chieti, Italy. Since 1999, she has been a staff member of the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology, School of Dentistry at the University of Chieti. She is currently working toward a Ph.D. in oral science at the same university.

Vincenzo Salini

Dr. Vincenzo Salini received his M.D. degree in 1991 from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chieti, Italy and degrees in orthopedics and sports medicine in 1996 and 2000, respectively. Dr. Salini is an orthopedic doctor in the orthopedic division at the Hospital of Chieti, Italy.

Felice Festa

Dr. Felice Festa Dr. Felice Festa is director of the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology, School of Dentistry and a professor of orthodontics at the University of Chieti, Italy. He is also director of the postgraduate program in clinical gnathology and orthodontics. He received his M.D. and D.D.S. degrees at the University of Rome in 1979 and 1982 respectively. He earned an M.S. degree in orthodontics in 1985 at the University of Cagliari. In 2001 he was nominated National Referee Professor in orthodontics at the National College of Professors. Dr. Festa has many published research articles in his field.

Christian Colucci

Dr. Christian Colucci is completing a fellowship in orthopedics at the University of G. d'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.