Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Rehab | How To “Train The Brain” (Exercises & Mistakes To Avoid)

Summary

This video explains how an ACL injury not only affects the knee but also induces neuroplastic changes in the brain. These changes disrupt proprioception and increase reliance on the visual system, impacting movement and performance. The video emphasizes incorporating visual-motor training and dual-task exercises in ACL rehab to address these brain changes. Practical examples of exercises and strategies are provided to help athletes and individuals regain functional and automatic movement, ultimately enhancing their recovery and reducing the risk of re-injury.

Takeaways

• 🧠 An ACL injury induces neuroplastic changes in the brain, affecting its ability to adapt and change due to the injury.
• 🧐 Disruption in proprioceptive feedback from the knee leads to an increased reliance on the visual system for movement planning and execution.
• 🏃‍♂️ The brain compensates for impaired proprioception by using more of its processing power for muscle contractions and movement generation.
• 🤕 Arthrogenic muscle inhibition occurs post-injury, requiring more brain signals to contract muscles like the quadriceps, affecting movement initiation.
• 👀 The brain's shift towards visual reliance can decrease its ability to scan the environment and make quick, automatic adjustments during sports.
• 🏋️‍♀️ Compensatory movement strategies and certain rehab exercises can reinforce the brain's over-reliance on vision, affecting performance.
• 🎯 Visual motor training is crucial in ACL rehab, involving dual tasking to improve the brain's ability to scan and respond to the environment.
• 👓 Using tools like stroboscopic glasses or virtual reality can help in training the brain by obstructing vision or introducing environmental interactions.
• 🤹‍♂️ Incorporating brain training in rehab should be done holistically, starting from the acute stage through to the return to sport.
• 🚫 Common mistakes include neglecting these strategies or implementing them too late in the rehab process, potentially hindering true physical adaptations.
• 🌟 The video emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the neuroplastic changes in ACL rehab for improved function and reduced risk of re-injury.

Q & A

What is an ACL injury and why is it significant?

An ACL injury refers to a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament, which is one of the key ligaments in the knee that provides stability. It's significant because it not only affects the knee's function but also leads to changes in the brain, impacting proprioception and motor control.

What is neuroplasticity in the context of an ACL injury?

Neuroplasticity in the context of an ACL injury refers to the brain's ability to adapt and change as a result of the injury. The brain compensates for the disrupted proprioceptive signals from the knee by relying more heavily on the visual system for information about joint positioning.

How does an ACL injury affect the brain's reliance on the visual system?

An ACL injury disrupts the proprioceptive signals that inform the brain about the knee's position. As a result, the brain starts to rely more on the visual system to determine the knee's positioning, leading to a shift in the way movements are planned and executed.

What is arthrogenic muscle inhibition and how does it relate to ACL injuries?

Arthrogenic muscle inhibition is a phenomenon where the brain requires more signals than normal to contract the quadriceps muscles after an ACL injury. This makes it harder to initiate movement, and the brain compensates by using areas usually reserved for environmental response and movement planning to generate muscle contractions.

How does the brain's compensation for an ACL injury impact athletic performance?

The brain's compensation for an ACL injury, such as increased reliance on vision and using more processing power for muscle contractions, can lead to decreased ability to make automatic adjustments and rapid movements. This can negatively affect an athlete's performance and increase the risk of further injury.

What is the importance of training the brain during ACL rehabilitation?

Training the brain during ACL rehabilitation is crucial because it helps address the neuroplastic changes that occur due to the injury. It ensures that the brain can effectively process sensory input and plan movements without over-reliance on the visual system, which is necessary for automatic and responsive athletic performance.

What is visual motor training and how does it help in ACL rehab?

Visual motor training involves training the system that helps scan the environment and produce movement in response. It can be achieved through dual tasking, which involves performing two tasks at once, and is essential in ACL rehab to improve the brain's ability to process information from the environment and make quick movement decisions.

Can you provide an example of how to incorporate visual motor training in early ACL rehab exercises like quad sets?

In early ACL rehab, exercises like quad sets can be performed with visual motor training by closing the eyes or looking away from the leg to decrease reliance on vision. Alternatively, exercises can be performed when a specific color flashes on a screen, requiring the brain to respond without visual input of the leg.

What are some common mistakes made when implementing brain training strategies in ACL rehab?

Common mistakes include being overwhelmed and not implementing the strategies at all, forgetting the basics and doing exercises that look fancy but don't create true adaptations for the physical qualities needed after an ACL injury, and simply adding an extra training session at the end without integrating it into the overall rehab program.

How can the principles of brain training be integrated into a holistic ACL rehab program?

The principles of brain training can be integrated into a holistic ACL rehab program by incorporating dual tasking and visual motor training into exercises at various stages of rehab. This can be done by varying exercises, using visual obstructions, or environmental interactions, and ensuring that these interventions are not overly complex or separate from the main rehab goals.

What are some examples of exercises that can be used to train the brain in the late stage of ACL rehab?

In the late stage of ACL rehab, exercises like jumping variations, change of direction tasks, and plyometric activities can be used to train the brain. These can be made more complex by adding dual tasking elements such as jumping in response to a moving target or performing reactive movements in response to a visual stimulus.