The Effect of Cognitive-Based Neuromuscular Exercises on Reaction Time, Joint Position Sense, Proprioceptive Force Sense and Balance in Individuals Who Had Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common knee injuries, occurring due to both contact and non-contact mechanisms, such as sudden deceleration, changes in direction, or landing after jumping, and leading to disruptions in knee stability and biomechanics. In the United States, it is estimated that there are between 100,000 and 200,000 cases annually, while the global incidence of ACL ruptures approaches 2 million cases per year. Treatment for ACL injuries can be either conservative or surgical. Conservative treatment is considered a viable option for specific populations, such as athletes who do not engage in activities requiring direction changes, individuals with no significant knee instability, and those with lower activity levels. ACL injuries result in quadriceps and hamstring weakness, reduced knee joint proprioception, and impaired balance.

To restore the anatomy and biomechanics of the knee, arthroscopic ACL reconstruction is performed to stabilize the knee and prevent secondary injuries, with approximately 30,000 procedures conducted annually in the United Kingdom. Although comprehensive rehabilitation is a critical component of ACL injury management, whether treated conservatively or surgically, there is currently no gold standard rehabilitation approach for such a widespread injury.

The type of rehabilitation protocol applied is one of the most significant factors influencing the outcomes of ACL reconstruction. Rehabilitation protocols have evolved substantially over the past few decades, with traditional rehabilitation, accelerated rehabilitation, and criterion-based rehabilitation protocols being the most commonly employed. These protocols aim to enhance muscle strength, improve proprioception, and ensure knee stabilization, with the timing and types of exercises determined by the biological healing and remodeling periods of the graft.

Criterion-based rehabilitation protocols, a relatively new approach, aim to provide patient-specific rehabilitation and maximize progress. Developed in 2016 by the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF), this protocol is divided into three phases: early, mid, and late stages. To progress to the next stage, patients must meet specific goals for each phase, which are verified through objective and subjective testing. The effectiveness and quality of early and mid-stage rehabilitation significantly influence long-term outcomes. The goals of early-stage rehabilitation, lasting approximately two months, include reducing effusion, restoring joint range of motion, and minimizing muscle atrophy. During the mid-stage, which extends from the second to the sixth month, the focus shifts to achieving full control of knee extension, restoring 80% of the muscle strength in the operated limb compared to the uninjured side, and regaining jumping ability. This phase includes exercises such as knee flexor and extensor strengthening, closed kinetic chain exercises, functional exercises, balance training, plyometric exercises, and neuromuscular exercises.

Neuromuscular control is essential for initiating movement and requires the integration of sensory information from proprioceptive, kinesthetic, visual, and vestibular sources, as well as cortical and spinal motor commands. This control is critical for the effective execution of movement. Recent studies indicate that ACL injuries are not isolated joint damages that merely affect stability and biomechanics but also directly influence neuromuscular control of the knee via mechanoreceptors located within the ACL. These injuries lead to neurophysiological effects on sensorimotor control. Following ACL injuries, these somatosensory changes may result in deficits in postural and motor control, leading to slower lower extremity reaction times. Additionally, nociceptive activity related to pain and swelling, combined with reduced joint position sense and kinesthesia, impairs movement quality. Neuromuscular control impairments, proprioceptive deficits, and disruptions in somatosensory inputs due to damaged mechanoreceptors may persist for 9-12 months, highlighting the need for targeted exercises during the mid-stage rehabilitation.

The complex integration of vestibular, visual, and somatosensory inputs, necessary for situational awareness, enhanced alertness, and the ability to select between attentional resources, can promote the development of neurocognitive functions. Cognitive-based neuromuscular exercises aim to improve patients' reaction times, joint position sense, proprioceptive strength, and neurocognitive functions such as balance, while enhancing motor control and knee stability. An example of cognitive-based neuromuscular exercises is the Life Kinetik (LK) method, developed by Lutz in Germany in 2007. This method is used to promote neural learning, support neuroplasticity, and reduce neurological symptoms. During these exercises, visual or cognitive tasks are combined with physical activity to train the brain, aiming to enhance concentration, problem-solving skills, reflexes, balance, and coordination. These exercises involve performing multiple complex tasks that require active and continuous thinking during movements. The investigators hypothesize that the complex tasks involved in these exercises may positively influence reaction time, joint position sense, proprioceptive strength, and balance, which are impaired following ACL reconstruction.

A review of the literature reveals that studies examining joint position sense, neurocognitive control, and reaction time in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction are limited. Furthermore, research investigating lower extremity reaction or detection time, resulting from disrupted somatosensory inputs after ACL injuries, is also scarce. While studies have been conducted on neuromuscular exercises in ACL rehabilitation programs, no research has been identified focusing on cognitive-based neuromuscular exercises. The lack of a gold standard rehabilitation method for ACL reconstruction in the literature has driven ongoing research into new treatment modalities and their effects. Recently, cognitive-based neuromuscular exercises have emerged as a promising method to enhance cognitive abilities, joint position sense, perceptual strength, and balance.

This study is designed to investigate the effects of cognitive-based neuromuscular exercises on reaction time, joint position sense, proprioceptive force sense, and balance disorders observed in patients following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. With the results obtained from this study, the investigators aim to provide a new perspective on rehabilitation approaches in ACL reconstruction, where no gold standard treatment exists, and contribute to the literature with objective and evidence-based data regarding the effects of cognitive-based neuromuscular exercises on sensorimotor, neuromuscular, and proprioceptive senses.

Study Population and Sample The study will include individuals of both genders aged 20-40 years. Post-surgical patients will initially undergo an 8-week home-based rehabilitation program, as described by McNeil et al., with weekly monitoring to assess their progress. At the end of the 8th week, patients who meet the criteria for the early phase of a criterion-based rehabilitation approach will be included in the study. These participants will then follow an 8-week rehabilitation program, twice per week, adhering to the mid-phase criterion-based rehabilitation protocol. All rehabilitation sessions will be conducted in-person under the supervision of an experienced physiotherapist. Measurements will be performed before the rehabilitation and at the end of the 8-week program. The sample size was calculated using G*Power 3.1, and a total of 27 participants were determined with 80% power.

Data Collection Tools Demographic data, including age, gender, body weight, height, BMI, alcohol and smoking habits, injured limb, time between injury and surgery, and occupation, will be collected.

Pain Measurement: Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain).

Lower Extremity Reaction Time Measurement: FITLIGHT Corp, a wireless light-sensor system, will be used to measure reaction time. Participants will deactivate randomly lit sensors using the affected and unaffected lower extremities. Task variations will include cognitive dual tasks (e.g., counting backward by fives) and motor dual tasks (e.g., tossing and catching a ball) to assess dual-task performance.

Joint Position Sense: Passive joint position sense will be evaluated using a joint repositioning task at 15° and 45° knee flexion, with measurements taken using the "Clinometer" smartphone application. Cognitive and motor tasks will also be incorporated.

Proprioceptive Force Sense: Proprioceptive force sense will be assessed using the StabilizerTM biofeedback device. Participants will perform isometric contractions, and differences between targeted and actual force values will be recorded. Cognitive and motor dual tasks will also be included.

Static Balance Test: Single-leg stance tests will evaluate static balance under open-eye conditions. Dual-task conditions will include verbal tasks (e.g., naming words starting with specific letters) and motor tasks (e.g., holding a tray with a cup of water).

Activity Level: Pre-injury activity levels will be measured using the Tegner Activity Scale, which scores activity from 0 (no activity) to 10 (elite-level competition).

IKDC Subjective Knee Form: Knee symptoms, function, and activity levels will be evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better function.

Treatment Protocol

Participants meeting progression criteria will undergo an 8-week mid-phase rehabilitation program (twice weekly). Patients will be randomly assigned to two groups:

Group 1: Exercises performed without secondary tasks. Group 2: Exercises performed with cognitive or motor dual tasks (e.g., rhythmic counting, reverse spelling, ball manipulation).

Example Exercises (Weeks 8-16):

Quadriceps and hamstring strengthening exercises, Hip, lumbo-pelvic, and gastrocnemius-soleus strengthening, Closed kinetic chain exercises, Functional exercises (e.g., squats, lunges, leg press), Balance training (e.g., tandem walking, single-leg stance with open and closed eyes).

Exercises will include 8-12 repetitions across 3 sets, ensuring optimal loading without over-stressing healing tissues. Pain and swelling will be closely monitored, with exercise intensity adjusted as necessary. Resistance will start at 40-50% of the unaffected limb's capacity and progress to 70-80%, depending on the patient's functional status.