Effect of Contralateral NMES on Quadriceps Activation After ACL Injury or Surgery

NCT07156734 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2025-00224
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 25
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

A major complication after cruciate ligament injury and surgery is arthrogenic muscle inhibition of the quadriceps, which is characterised by a deficit in voluntary muscle activation in the affected leg. This can hinder rehabilitation processes, lead to impaired knee function, and negatively impact the patients' quality of life. The primary objective of this study is to assess whether voluntary quadriceps activation on the injured side is facilitated by the concomitant application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the contralateral quadriceps.

Conditions

ACL Injury

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• EMG activity

  EMG data will be recorded from the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles.

  Data will be collected at two time points: after ACL injury (within two weeks prior to surgery) and following ACL reconstruction (within three days post-surgery).

Study Arms (1)

Contralateral NMES

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) applied to the quadriceps muscle of the contralateral leg while performing voluntary quadriceps contractions on the injured side. Each participant completes two sessions: one after ACL injury and one after ACL reconstruction surgery.

Device: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Interventions

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation DEVICE

Studies in healthy individuals have demonstrated that NMES applied to the quadriceps of one limb induces short-term increases in strength and neural drive in the contralateral homologous muscle. Since these effects have only been observed in healthy individuals, it is essential to investigate whether similar responses occur in ACL patients.

Contralateral NMES

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients undergoing ACL surgery with semitendinosus tendon autograft in the Schulthess Clinic
• Unilateral and primary ACL injury (with/without diagnoses of additional meniscus injury)

You may not qualify if:

• Previous surgery/ligament rupture in injured or uninjured knee or hip
• Severe pain in the uninjured-side quadriceps or knee joint
• Ongoing pregnancy
• BMI \>30 kg/m²
• Neuromuscular disease
• Open wounds or tissue injuries on the anterior aspect of the thigh
• Additional rupture of other knee ligaments (posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, lateral collateral ligament)
• Implanted metallic/electronic devices (cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators)
• Patients getting a femoralis block (peripheral nerve block) after surgery will be excluded for the post-surgical appointment
• Insufficient language comprehension

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Schulthess Klinik: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Knee Injuries; Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Central Study Contacts

Nicola Angelo Maffiuletti, PhD

CONTACT

+41 44 385 75 79; nicola.maffiuletti@kws.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Head Research Group Human Performance Lab

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 27, 2025
• First Posted: September 5, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: September 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08