{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T07:01:54Z","timestamp":1790665314422,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"22","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,10,21]],"date-time":"2021-10-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1634774400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["The Journal of Physiology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The persistence of quadriceps weakness represents a major concern following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The underlying adaptations occurring in the activity of spinal motoneurons are still unexplored. This study examined the discharge patterns of large populations of motor units (MUs) in the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis muscles following ACLR. Nine ACLR individuals and 10 controls performed unilateral trapezoidal contractions of the knee extensor muscles at 35%, 50% and 70% of the maximal voluntary isometric force (MVIF). High\u2010density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) was used to record the myoelectrical activity of the vasti muscles in both limbs. HDsEMG signals were decomposed with a convolutive blind source separation method and MU properties were extracted and compared between sides and groups. The ACLR group showed a lower MVIF on the reconstructed side compared to the contralateral side (28.1%;\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&lt;\u00a00.001). This force deficit was accompanied by reduced MU discharge rates (\u223c21%;\n                      <jats:italic>P\u00a0&lt;\u00a0<\/jats:italic>\n                      0.05), lower absolute MU recruitment and derecruitment thresholds (\u223c22% and \u223c22.5%, respectively;\n                      <jats:italic>P\u00a0&lt;\u00a0<\/jats:italic>\n                      0.05) and lower input\u2013output gain of motoneurons (27.3%;\n                      <jats:italic>P\u00a0=\u00a0<\/jats:italic>\n                      0.009). Deficits in MU discharge rates of the VL and in absolute recruitment and derecruitment thresholds of both vasti MUs were associated with deficits in MVIF (\n                      <jats:italic>P\u00a0&lt;\u00a0<\/jats:italic>\n                      0.05). A strong between\u2010side correlation was found for MU discharge rates of the VL of ACLR individuals (\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&lt;\u00a00.01). There were no significant between\u2010group differences (\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&gt;\u00a00.05). These results indicate that mid\u2010 to long\u2010term strength deficits following ACLR may be attributable to a reduced neural drive to vasti muscles, with potential changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs.\n                      <jats:boxed-text content-type=\"graphic\" position=\"anchor\">\n                        <jats:graphic xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" mimetype=\"image\/png\" position=\"anchor\" specific-use=\"enlarged-web-image\" xlink:href=\"graphic\/tjp14859-gra-0001-m.png\">\n                          <jats:alt-text>image<\/jats:alt-text>\n                        <\/jats:graphic>\n                      <\/jats:boxed-text>\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Key points<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:list list-type=\"bullet\">\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>Impaired expression and control of knee extension forces is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and is related to high risk of a second injury.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>To provide novel insights into the neural basis of this impairment, the discharge patterns of motor units in the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis were investigated during voluntary force contractions.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>There was lower knee extensor strength on the reconstructed side with respect to the contralateral side, which was explained by deficits in motor unit discharge rate and an altered motoneuronal input\u2013output gain. Insufficient excitatory inputs to motoneurons and increased inhibitory afferent signals potentially contributed to these alterations.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>These results further our understanding of the neural underpinnings of quadriceps weakness following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and can help to develop effective rehabilitation protocols to regain muscle strength and reduce the risk of a second injury.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                      <\/jats:list>\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1113\/jp282014","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,10,4]],"date-time":"2021-10-04T19:35:28Z","timestamp":1633376128000},"page":"5103-5120","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":80,"title":["Deficit in knee extension strength following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is explained by a reduced neural drive to the vasti muscles"],"prefix":"10.1113","volume":"599","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9234-9741","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefano","family":"Nuccio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Movement Human and Health Sciences University of Rome \u2018Foro Italico\u2019  Rome Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7118-5554","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessandro","family":"Del Vecchio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering Friedrich\u2010Alexander University  Erlangen 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