Biomechanical analysis of the two-dimensional models composed from roentgenographic pictures and electromyographic analysis of the shear force exerted on the tibia during standing on both legs were conducted in 21 young adult males. The simultaneous contraction of the quadriceps and hamstrings was observed in all electromyograms. Amplitude observed on electromyograms of the hamstrings increased as the trunk flexion angle increased. The calculated average values of shear force were negative at every knee flexion angle (negative value means posteriorly directed force). As the trunk flexion angle increased, posterior drawer force increased at knee flexion angles of 30 degrees and 60 degrees. The simultaneous contraction of the quadriceps and the hamstrings was considered to be the main factor that influenced these results. Standing on both legs with knee and trunk flexion was considered to be applicable in the early stages after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

We performed electromyographic analyses in 12 patients with posterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees to compare electrical activity in the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles between the uninjured and involved limbs. Each patient performed concentric isokinetic knee motion at 30 and 60 deg/sec in both limbs separately. Torques in knee extension and flexion and surface electromyograms from the quadriceps, medial hamstring, and medial gastrocnemius muscles were simultaneously recorded. The uninjured limb served as a control for each patient. Before generation of flexion torque, the gastrocnemius muscle was electrically activated significantly earlier in posterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees than in uninjured knees at each velocity. However, we could not find any significant differences between the posterior cruciate ligament-deficient and uninjured knees in torque curves and electromyelograms of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. This study suggests that early contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle may be a part of a compensatory mechanism in posterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees.

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