OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of additional sensory information in proprioception and postural balance of individuals with ACL lesion. METHODS: Participated in this study 28 individuals with ACL unilateral lesion and 28 individuals with healthy knee. Proprioception was evaluated through the threshold to detection of passive knee motion from 15 and 45 degrees, for flexion and extension directions. Postural balance was evaluated in single leg stance without vision, on a plate force and investigated through the mean sway amplitude, mean sway velocity of the center of pressure. The conditions of sensory information used were: normal information, infrapatellar adhesive tape and infrapatellar strap. RESULTS: Individuals with ACL lesion show a deficit in proprioception and postural balance when compared with individuals with healthy knee (p<0.05). However, with the use of additional sensory information, proprioception and postural control performance in individuals with ACL lesion improve (p<0.05). Individuals with healthy knee did not show any benefit with the use of additional sensory information (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: ACL lesion causes damage in the proprioception and postural control system. However, these effects are minimized with the use of additional sensory information.
Anterior cruciate ligament; Proprioception; Musculoskeletal equilibrium; Knee
