Neuromuscular Rehab for ACL Reconstruction: Knee Function & Brain Plasticity

NCT ID: NCT07243860

Last Updated: 2025-11-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-12-31
• Study Completion Date: 2027-03-31

Brief Summary

This study focuses on patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and reconstruction, aiming to systematically investigate the clinical efficacy and underlying mechanisms of neuromuscular training in restoring knee joint function.Beyond examining improvements in local knee biomechanics, the research delves into brain plasticity changes during rehabilitation to reveal the central regulatory mechanisms of neuromuscular control.The findings are expected to provide a solid theoretical and empirical foundation for optimizing post-ACL rehabilitation strategies, fostering interdisciplinary integration from peripheral interventions to neural central regulation.

Detailed Description

In the field of sports medicine, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common yet severe sports-related condition with significant consequences. Patients exhibit considerable variation in knee functional recovery following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Although neuromuscular training serves as an effective rehabilitation intervention, its mechanistic underpinnings remain incompletely elucidated, and the relationship between brain plasticity and functional recovery of the knee joint has not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, this study focuses on patients with ACL rupture and reconstruction, aiming to elucidate the specific mechanisms through which neuromuscular training contributes to the restoration of neuromuscular function in patients following ACL rupture and reconstruction, with particular emphasis on its effects on brain plasticity and neuromuscular control. It will systematically investigate the dynamic changes in brain functional plasticity and their underlying mechanisms throughout the rehabilitation process post-ACL injury and reconstruction. By uncovering the operational mechanisms of neuromuscular training in injury prevention and rehabilitation, this research will provide new empirical evidence to advance the theoretical framework of sports rehabilitation.

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Neuromuscular Training

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Neuromuscular Training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

This is a structured, supervised neuromuscular training program designed to enhance sensorimotor control, strength, and functional stability of the knee joint. The program is administered by certified physical therapists and consists of three phases:

1. Preoperative Phase (6 weeks):

2. Postoperative Phase (0-12 weeks):

3. Postoperative Phase (12+ weeks):

Core components include:Proprioception and Balance Training；Strength Training；Plyometrics and Dynamic Stability；Movement Pattern Re-training.

Dosage:Frequency: 3 supervised sessions per week. Duration: Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes. Total Program Length: Preoperative phase (6 weeks) + postoperative phase (continued until specific functional criteria are met, approximately 12weeks post-op).

Conventional Rehabilitation

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional Rehabilitation

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

This arm receives the standard of care rehabilitation protocol, which mirrors the experimental group in duration, frequency, and timing but differs fundamentally in the content and specificity of the exercises.

Core components include (across both pre-operative and post-operative phases):

Range of Motion (ROM) Exercises;Basic Strength Training;Standard Balance Training

Dosage (Identical in timing to the experimental group):

Pre-operative Phase: 6 weeks of training. Post-operative Phase: Continues until standard discharge criteria are met. Frequency: 3 supervised physical therapy sessions per week. Duration: Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes. Total Program Length: Continues until standard discharge criteria are met (typically 12 weeks post-op).

Interventions

Neuromuscular Training

This is a structured, supervised neuromuscular training program designed to enhance sensorimotor control, strength, and functional stability of the knee joint. The program is administered by certified physical therapists and consists of three phases:

1. Preoperative Phase (6 weeks):

2. Postoperative Phase (0-12 weeks):

3. Postoperative Phase (12+ weeks):

Core components include:Proprioception and Balance Training；Strength Training；Plyometrics and Dynamic Stability；Movement Pattern Re-training.

Dosage:Frequency: 3 supervised sessions per week. Duration: Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes. Total Program Length: Preoperative phase (6 weeks) + postoperative phase (continued until specific functional criteria are met, approximately 12weeks post-op).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Conventional Rehabilitation

This arm receives the standard of care rehabilitation protocol, which mirrors the experimental group in duration, frequency, and timing but differs fundamentally in the content and specificity of the exercises.

Core components include (across both pre-operative and post-operative phases):

Range of Motion (ROM) Exercises;Basic Strength Training;Standard Balance Training

Dosage (Identical in timing to the experimental group):

Pre-operative Phase: 6 weeks of training. Post-operative Phase: Continues until standard discharge criteria are met. Frequency: 3 supervised physical therapy sessions per week. Duration: Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes. Total Program Length: Continues until standard discharge criteria are met (typically 12 weeks post-op).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥18.5 kg/m² and <35 kg/m²;

2. Diagnosed with first-time, unilateral, isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture ;

3. No or only mild concomitant injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, or lateral collateral ligament;

4. Voluntarily participated in the study and provided written informed consent .

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with ACL rupture for more than 6 months;

2. Combined severe injuries (Grade II or higher) to the posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, or lateral collateral ligament(Grading Note: Grade II indicates partial tear with ligament thickening, tortuosity, and fiber disruption; Grade III indicates complete rupture);OR combined severe meniscal tears ;

3. History of prior knee surgery (e.g., meniscal repair, ligament reconstruction, arthroplasty, arthroscopic debridement);

4. Presence of other knee pathologies: knee osteoarthritis, tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, infectious or inflammatory diseases, fractures, dislocations, or other skeletal injuries;

5. Severe cardiac, pulmonary, cerebral, hepatic, or renal dysfunction; OR visual/cognitive impairments.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Peking University Third Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Central Contacts

Shuang Ren, Doctoral Degree

Role: CONTACT

xixishuang123@126.com

17610252992

Other Identifiers

M20250812

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id