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Vibration and Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis Risk Following ACL Injury
The Effects of Vibratory Stimuli on Joint Health and Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis Risk Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Who can join
Ages 16 to 35 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 16 to 35 years * Unilateral, primary ACLR with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft Exclusion Criteria: * History of prior ACL injury or revision ACLR * History of prior knee surgery * Requirement of multiple ligament surgery at time of ACLR * Concomitant injuries or surgical procedures at the time of ACLR that would delay early post-operative weight bearing based on surgeon recommendations (e.g. lower extremity fracture, intra-articular fracture, microfracture procedure) * Removal of more than 1/3 of the medial or lateral meniscus at the time of ACLR * Articular cartilage damage greater than 3A on the International Cartilage Repair Society Criteria at the time of ACLR * History of musculoskeletal injury to either leg in the 3 months prior to participation other than primary ACL injury * Prior diagnosis of radiographic OA in any joint of the lower extremity * History of neurological disorder (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, etc.) * Contraindications for MRI (e.g. extreme claustrophobia, cardiac pacemaker, cochlear implant, metal foreign bodies, aneurism clip, etc.) * Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
About the study
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of vibration on factors related to the risks of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis and secondary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in individuals who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery (ACLR). The main objectives are to compare the effects of Standard rehabilitation vs. rehabilitation that includes whole body vibration (WBV) or local muscle vibration (LMV) on:
* Quadriceps muscle function * Gait biomechanics linked to post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis development * Patient self-report outcomes * MRI indicators of knee joint health and muscle quality * Landing biomechanics linked to secondary ACL injury risk * Evidence-based return-to-physical-activity criteria
Participants will be assigned to 1 of 3 groups (standard rehabilitation, standard rehabilitation + WBV, or standard rehabilitation + LMV) and will complete assessments of quadriceps function, gait biomechanics, landing biomechanics, functional ability, patient-report outcomes, and MRI 1, 6, and 12 months after ACLR. Researchers will compare the groups to see if vibration embedded in ACLR rehabilitation improves joint health outcomes.
What is being tested
- Experimental: Whole Body Vibration (device)
- Experimental: Local Muscle Vibration (device)
- Standard ACL Rehabilitation (other)
Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Participants: 114 · Started: Jan 11, 2021
Contact the study team
- Troy Blackburn, PhD · Phone: 919-843-2021
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT04875052
Locations in the U.S.
| North Carolina | MOTION Science Institute, Chapel Hill Womack Army Medical Center, Chapel Hill (Not yet recruiting) |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.