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. 2015 Jun;27(2):101-7.
doi: 10.5792/ksrr.2015.27.2.101. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

Lack of Correlation between Dynamic Balance and Hamstring-to-Quadriceps Ratio in Patients with Chronic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears

Dae-Hee Lee  1 , Jin-Hyuck Lee  2 , Hye-Jin Jeong  2 , Seok-Joo Lee  2
Affiliations

Lack of Correlation between Dynamic Balance and Hamstring-to-Quadriceps Ratio in Patients with Chronic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears

Dae-Hee Lee et al. Knee Surg Relat Res. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength and hamstring-to-quadriceps (HQ) ratio, as well as the relationships of these parameters with dynamic balance, in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture.

Materials and methods: We compared 25 patients diagnosed with chronic unilateral ACL tears and 25 age-matched healthy volunteers. The maximal torque of the quadriceps and hamstring and dynamic balance were measured.

Results: Although the isokinetic maximal peak torques were about 50% lower in the quadriceps (57%, p<0.001) and hamstring (56%, p=0.001) muscles in the chronic ACL tear group than in the control group, their HQ ratios were similar (56%±17% vs. 58%±6%, p=0.591). HQ ratio was significantly correlated with anterior-posterior stability index (r=-0.511, p=0.021) and overall stability index (r=-0.476, p=0.034) in control group, but these correlations were not observed in chronic ACL tear group.

Conclusions: Thigh muscle strength was about 50% lower in the chronic ACL tear group than in the control group, but the HQ ratio was similar. The dynamic balance of the knee was not influenced by thigh muscle strength but was influenced by HQ ratio in healthy young individuals. However, HQ ratio was not correlated with dynamic knee balance in chronic ACL tear patients.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Chronic tear; Muscle strength; Postural balance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Flowchart illustrating the study design.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Photograph of a subject demonstrating the measurement of dynamic balance using the Biodex Stability System.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. (A) The mean isokinetic peak torque of both quadriceps and hamstrings, and the hamstring-to-quadriceps (HQ) peak torque ratio in the chronic ACL tear and control groups. (B) Stability indices for anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and overall survival in the chronic ACL tear and control groups. All vertical error bars represent standard deviation. ACL: anterior cruciate ligament.
*Statistically significant.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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