Sensorimotor control after anterior cruciate ligament injury: towards a precision medicine approach

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury leads to knee instability with high risk of re-injury and to develop knee osteoarthritis. Sensorimotor control (SMC) deteriorates and also brain activity may change.

A lack of consensus on best treatment (physiotherapy with/-out surgery and ensuing training) emanates from discord on post-injury assessments and by not considering individual tailoring.

Our transdisciplinary research programme targets first-rate evaluation of knee function in relation to whole-body SMC, neurocognition and neuroplasticity also at the individual level.

We aim to evaluate: 1) SMC in persons post-ACL injury compared to controls, also longitudinally during rehabilitation (~1-year) with novel tests and artificial intelligence (AI); 2) proprioception and SMC in relation to brain activity; 3) if fear of re-injury influences SMC and brain activity; 4) effects of internal vs. external focus of attention on movements and brain response; and 5) develop proof-of-concept for an individualised intervention using wearable sensors and AI coaching.

We uniquely use simultaneous recording of 3D motion with brain imaging, and innovative statistics and AI to quantify, interpret and relate complex motion and brain data (fMRI/EEG) to dynamic knee control.

Our research has an impact on evaluation, treatment, re-injury risk and reducing injury consequences while advancing precision medicine. Our methods will likely benefit multiple groups with movement deficits in the future.