2025 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster
Neurofeedback Visualization Training Through a Brain Computer Interface to Optimize Muscle Activation Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Brian Forsythe, MD, Chicago, IL UNITED STATES
Catherine Hand, BS, San Antonio, TX UNITED STATES
Camden Bohn, BA UNITED STATES
Josh Chang, BS, Chicago , IL UNITED STATES
Daanish Khazi-Syed, BS, Dallas, TX UNITED STATES
Jourdan Michael Cancienne, MD, New Orleans, LA UNITED STATES
Jorge Chahla, MD, PhD, Hinsdale, IL UNITED STATES
Shane Nho, MD, MS, Chicago, IL UNITED STATES
RUSH University Medical Center, Chicago , IL, UNITED STATES
FDA Status Cleared
Summary
Neurofeedback visualization training (NFVT) may accelerate postoperative muscle activation and recovery following ACL reconstruction by preventing inhibition of neuromuscular pathways, offering a novel non-invasive rehabilitation approach.
ePosters will be available shortly before Congress
Abstract
Purpose
Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) there are neuroplastic changes in motor cortices and corticospinal tract pathways that lead to postoperative weakness. Arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) is a limiting factor following arthroscopic ACLR surgery and is the cause for a patient’s inability to activate the affected muscle groups postoperatively. Neurofeedback visualization training (NFVT) through a brain computer interface is a novel, non-invasive, rehabilitation technique that may expedite muscle activation postoperatively by preventing inhibition of neural corticospinal pathways. Our purpose is to quantify the effects of NFVT following ACLR.
Materials And Methods
This is a randomized, single masked, control trial with an intervention arm and control arm each with 30 patients (Total n = 60). Participants in the intervention group and control will follow the same physical therapy rehabilitation protocols with the addition of NFVT (iBrainTechâ„¢) twice a week, 20-minute sessions, for 8-weeks postoperatively to the intervention arm. Primary outcomes will include range of motion, peak torque measured by dynamometer, muscle activity measured by surface EMG, and proprioception/balance. Outcomes will be measured preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Data analysis will be carried out using t-tests and ANOVA.
Results
We hypothesize that patients who undergo NFVT will display earlier postoperative muscle activation recovery in comparison to controls. Specifically, ROM, peak torque, muscle activity, and balance may approach clinically and statistically meaningful improvements.
Conclusion
NFVT is a novel rehabilitation technique that could offer a non-invasive way to accelerate recovery and prevent atrophy of neuromuscular pathways. This new rehabilitation technique is hypothesized to reduce rehabilitation times following ACLR.