Altered electrocortical brain activity after ACL reconstruction during force control

Abstract Afferent proprioceptive information from the knee joint may be altered due to a reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which could result in changes of cortical activity. The aim of the study is to look if force sensation and cortical activation measured by EEG are influenced by an ACL‐reconstruction when performing a force reproduction task. Nine patients after ACL reconstruction and nine healthy controls were asked to reproduce 50% of their maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) reproduction. EEG power values related to frequency bands and the error in reproduction were collected while performing the force reproduction. The aberration error demonstrated no significant differences between groups. The cortical activity results in significant higher frontal Theta power during the force reproduction task with the reconstructed limb (F3 and Fz: p < 0.05) of the ACL group compared to the controls. The EEG was able to measure changes in electrocortical activity after ACL‐reconstruction in force reproduction, whereas performance data was not affected. The results were discussed in terms of differences in attentional control with involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex related to higher frontal Theta power in the ACL patients. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29: 1383–1389, 2011