Summary
Leg–dominance has much effect on brain plasticity after ACL reconstruction.
Abstract
Key Words: neuroplasticity, functional magnetic resonance imaging, motor control
Background
Alterations in the central nervous system after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction remain unknown. Modern neuroimaging techniques can be used to elucidate the underlying functional and structural alterations of the brain that predicate the neuromuscular control adaptations associated with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. This knowledge will further our understanding of the neural adaptations after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In this paper, we describe the measurement of brain activation during knee extension-flexion after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in order to improve the rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to investigate brain plastic changes of patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Methods
Thirty right leg–dominant male participants with right anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction participated in this study. Thirty right leg–dominant male participants with left anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction participated in this study. Thirty right leg–dominant healthy male participants were regarded as control group. Brain functional magnetic resonance imaging data for an anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed participant and a matched control participant were collected and contrasted.
Results
Relative to the matched control participant, the left anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed participant exhibited increased activation of bilaterally in the region of the medial part and orbital portions of the superior frontal gyrus, superior parietal and rostrally extend to postcentral, precentral, and superior temporal gyrus related to the voice stimuli. Subcortically, right hemisphere of insula and bilaterally caudate, the superior cerebellar cortices (cerebellum crus I) bilaterally and hemispheric lobule IV/V was also activated. For the right anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed participant, only superior cerebellar cortices (cerebellum crus I) was increased activation.
Conclusions
Right leg–dominant male exerts more brain plasticity after left anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction than right anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction cannot restore the activation of central nervous system. Aspects of neurophysiology may be predisposing factors to rehabilitation.