Plantar Pressure Distribution And Postural Stability In Young Adults Diagnosed With Complete Rupture Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Authors:   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Hospital Nossa Senhora do Pari, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Sammartino Krettelys José Roberto , Rocha Matheus Brito ,   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Hospital Municipal Antônio Giglio – Osasco, SP, Brazil, Coelho Neto Pedro Mariano ,   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Campus Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil, Vieira Partata Pedro Henrique ,   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Hospital Municipal Antônio Giglio – Osasco, SP, Brazil, Silva Azevedo Nora Fernanda Grazielle da ,   Faculty of Physical Education and Dance UFG – Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil Avenida Esperança s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
Published: December 2024

Objective: analyze alterations in plantar pressure distribution and balance in young adults diagnosed with a complete ACL
rupture, as well as to evaluate the impact of these conditions on athletic performance.
Methodology: This study involved 34 young adults, divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a complete
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture. The study’s methodology included specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, ethical
considerations, an experimental protocol involving plantar pressure distribution and bipodal open-eye postural control
assessments, and statistical analysis using Minitab 21 software. The plantar pressure was recorded using a Baroscan Podotech
platform, and the displacement amplitude of the center of pressure (COP) was evaluated in both anteroposterior (COPAP) and
mediolateral (COPML) directions. The results were analyzed for normality, homogeneity, and differences within the group, with
a p-value ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: In this study, all participants in Group A, who all had an injury to
the right knee, served as a crucial criterion for their inclusion and an important reference point for the analysis. The Center of
Pressure Anteroposterior (COPAP) measurement in Group A was 17.79 cm (±0.82), while in Group B, this measurement was
significantly higher, at 25.10 cm (±1.04). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.01). As for the
Center of Pressure Medial-lateral (COPML) measurement, it was 14.47 cm (±9.99) in Group A and 10.80 cm (±0.69) in Group
B. Again, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.01).
Conclusion: The study concludes that a complete rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) significantly influences
the Anteroposterior (COPAP) and Mediolateral (COPML) Center of Pressure measures but may have less impact on plantar
pressure distribution. A trend of higher pressure in the Forefoot compared to the Rearfoot was observed in both groups, possibly
due to biomechanical changes following an ACL rupture. These findings, which align with recent studies, suggest that while
plantar pressure and center of pressure measurements are important for diagnosing foot problems and monitoring gait and
posture, an ACL rupture may have a less pronounced impact on plantar pressure distribution. Further research is needed, but
these insights could have important implications for the rehabilitation and management of individuals with an ACL rupture.