A comparison of additional sensory inputs on dynamic balance between men with chronic anterior cruciate ligament injury and healthy subjects

Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a common knee problem that could affect balance. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the additional sensory information could improve dynamic balance in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in comparison with healthy adults. 15 young patients with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament injury (mean age 28.9±4.7, male) and 15 healthy volunteers (mean age 26.1±3.8, male) participated in this study. Participants were completed the star excursion balance test under two sensory conditions: with and without using light touch. The force sensor that was placed on the light touch device transferred the sensory informations from index finger to the microprocessor and proper feedback was produced. The results showed significant differences after using light touch in anterior cruciate ligament deficiency patients in compared with control group in these directions: medial, posterior, lateral, anterolateral, Posterolateral and posteromedial (P=0.001).There was also significant differences between the patients and healthy controls in posterior (P=0.005),lateral(P=0.004) and medial(P=0.003) directions. Based on these results, we suggest that the reduction in dynamic test in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency would be due to the reduction of sensory information provided by this ligament, but when sensory information is enhanced, dynamic performance improves. The results have implications for a new method to improve stability in these patients.