Neuroplastic alterations in common synaptic inputs and synergistic motor unit clusters controlling the vastii muscles of individuals with ACL reconstruction

• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00056.2024
• Publication Date: 2024-07-18T18:00:22Z
• Authors: Stefano Nuccio; Carina M. Germer; Andrea Casolo; Riccardo Borzuola; Luciana Labanca; Jacopo E. Rocchi; Pier Paolo Mariani; Francesco Felici; Dario Farina; Deborah Falla; Andrea Macaluso; Paola Sbriccoli; Alessandro Del Ve...
• Keywords: Motor unit; Vastus medialis; Motor Unit Recruitment; Motor Control

Chronic quadriceps dysfunction is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). We investigated voluntary force control strategies by estimating inputs to motor neurons innervating the vastii muscles. Our results showed attenuated vastus lateralis and plastic rearrangements in functional clusters of modulating knee extension forces reconstructed limb. These findings suggest neuroplastic adjustments following ACLR that may occur fine-tune forces.