NCT07156734

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

Does NMES Applied to the Contralateral Uninjured Side Facilitate Voluntary Quadriceps Activation Before and After ACL Surgery?

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Schulthess Klinik · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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.

Detailed description

The primary objective of this study is to assess whether injured-side voluntary quadriceps activation before and after ACL surgery is facilitated by the concomitant application of NMES on the contralateral quadriceps (uninjured side), in comparison to a control (CTRL) condition that does not involve any contralateral activity (passive rest) and to a voluntary (VOL) condition that involves a maximal voluntary contraction of the contralateral quadriceps.

Conditions

• ACL Injury

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-01
• Primary completion: 2026-05-01
• Completion: 2026-09-01
• First posted: 2025-09-05
• Last updated: 2025-09-05