Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament injury is one of the most common knee injuries,
especially in the athletically active population. Despite successful surgical reconstruction,
many individuals do not achieve full quadriceps muscle strength after surgery, which can
affect knee function and increase the risk of re-injury. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
is used as an adjunctive therapy to standard physiotherapy treatment to improve skeletal
muscle strength. Its effect is based on reducing arthrogenic muscle inhibition and stimulating
neuronal activation of the muscle. Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to analyse the
effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscle strength in subjects after
anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, based on a review of the existing scientific
literature. Methods: The following keyword combinations were used: "ACL reconstruction
AND neuromuscular electrical stimulation" and "ACL reconstruction AND NMES".
Results: Six studies investigating the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on
quadriceps muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were included in
the literature review based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The intervention
protocols lasted between 4 and 12 weeks. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation proved to be
effective in increasing quadriceps muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament
reconstruction. Four of the six studies analysed reported a statistically significant
improvement in maximal voluntary isometric contraction strength after neuromuscular
electrical stimulation therapy, compared to standard treatment. The effects were seen both
in the early recovery phase and in the long term, up to 6 or 12 months after surgery.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was not effective in one study, and in one study the
results were heterogenous. Discussion and conclusion: Based on the reviewed studies, it
can be concluded that neuromuscular electrical stimulation is an effective method for
strengthening the quadriceps after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. However,
results are heterogeneous between studies and further research with larger sample sizes and
standardised stimulation protocols is needed to develop clinical guidelines.
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