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Lower limb muscle size after anterior cruciate ligament injury : A systematic review and meta-analysis
Dutaillis, Benjamin Maniar, Nirav Opar, David A. Hickey, Jack T. Timmins, Ryan G.
Dutaillis, Benjamin
Maniar, Nirav
Opar, David A.
Hickey, Jack T.
Timmins, Ryan G.
Abstract
Background
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is known to have a number of deleterious effects on lower limb muscle function. Alterations in muscle size are one such effect that have implications towards reductions in strength and functioning of the lower limbs. However, a comprehensive analysis of alterations in muscle size has yet to be undertaken.
Objective
To systematically review the evidence investigating lower limb muscle size in ACL injured limbs.
Design
Systematic review
Data Sources
Database searches of Medline, SPORTDiscus, Embase, Cinahl and Web of Science as well as citation tracking and manual reference list searching.
Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies
Individuals with ACL deficient or reconstructed limbs with an assessment of lower limb muscle size and control limb data (contralateral or uninjured control group)
Methods
Risk of bias assessment was completed on included studies. Data were extracted and where possible meta-analyses performed. Best evidence synthesis was also undertaken.
Results
49 articles were included in this review, with 37 articles included in the meta-analyses. 66 separate meta-analyses were performed using various measures of lower limb muscle size. Across all measures, ACL deficient limbs showed lesser quadriceps femoris muscle size (d range = − 0.35 to − 0.40), whereas ACL reconstructed limbs showed lesser muscle size in the quadriceps femoris (d range = − 0.41 to − 0.69), vastus medialis (d = − 0.25), vastus lateralis (d = − 0.31), hamstrings (d = − 0.28), semitendinosus (d range = − 1.02 to − 1.14) and gracilis (d range = − 0.78 to − 0.99) when compared to uninjured limbs.
Conclusion
This review highlights the effect ACL injury has on lower limb muscle size. Regardless of whether an individual chooses a conservative or surgical approach, the quadriceps of the injured limb appear to have lesser muscle size compared to an uninjured limb. When undertaking reconstructive surgery with a semitendinosus/gracilis tendon graft, the harvested muscle shows lesser muscle size compared to the uninjured limb.
Keywords
Date
2021
Type
Journal article
Journal
Sports Medicine
Book
Volume
51
Issue
6
Page Range
1209-1226
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Files
Dutaillis_2021_Lower_Limb_Muscle_Size_after_Anterior.pdf
Adobe PDF, 5.46 MB
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Published as green open access
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Open
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