ACL injuries and new rehab techniques

New research published in the journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy showed parts of the brain associated with leg movement lagged during recovery from an ACL injury.  Researchers used brain scans to compare brain activity in healthy adults versus those recovering from ACL injuries when extending and flexing the knee.

The brain scans showed that instead of relying on movement or spatial awareness, individuals with an ACL injury relied on visual systems in the brain when moving their knee and didn't move as naturally or instinctively as those without injuries.   The researchers and therapists used strobe glasses to include motor learning and visual motor compensations during rehabilitation exercises.  The glasses distract the individuals allowing them to move the knee using natural instinct instead of visual cues.

According to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, individuals who experience an ACL injury are 30-40 times more likely to sustain a second ACL injury relative to those in the same sport who have not experienced an ACL injury.