{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T21:49:32Z","timestamp":1791496172146,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]],"date-time":"2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1736208000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Neurol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), patients undergo specific changes in body and specific brain functions, which stem from neuroplasticity. In this study, we employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate the characteristics of brain activation in patients after ACLR during a repetitive upstairs task, and compared them with healthy individuals. We aimed to provide a new theoretical basis for the changes in brain function after ACLR and neurorehabilitation of sports injuries.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A total of 27 patients who undergoing right ACLR and 27 healthy controls participated in the study. We utilized fNIRS to collect hemodynamic data from the frontal and parietal cortices of both groups during a repetitive upstairs task. The Lysholm scale assessment was conducted prior to the commencement of the task. Compare the functional characteristics of the brain in post-operative patients and healthy subjects during upstairs tasks, and examine the functional differences between the two groups.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>(1) Patients undergoing ACLR demonstrated a significant negative change in <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>-value for Channel 25 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f4.0461, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0067) during the repetitive upstairs task. (2) In contrast, the healthy control group exhibited a significant increase in <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>-value across Channel 6 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f\u22123.0489, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0066), Channel 7 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f\u22124.5723, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0002), Channel 8 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f\u22123.0089, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0072), Channel 13 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f\u22122.8789, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0096), Channel 20 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f\u22123.4200, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0029), and Channel 33 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f\u22122.6974, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0143) during the task. (3) When compared to the healthy control group, ACLR patients exhibited a significant negative change in <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>-value for Channel 25 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f2.7583, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0089), and Channel 33 (<jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f3.0618, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.0040).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Patients with ACLR exhibited a significant negative activation in a specific brain region during upward stair movements. In contrast, healthy individuals demonstrated activation in two particular brain areas during the same task. Interventions targeting these brain regions may represent a novel rehabilitation approach. This provides a theoretical basis for incorporating fNIRS into the rehabilitation assessment of patients undergoing ACLR. In conclusion, this study provides a theoretical framework for potential interventions and assessments of brain regions following ACLR.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2024.1500579","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]],"date-time":"2025-01-07T15:53:06Z","timestamp":1736265186000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Brain near-infrared study of upstairs movement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Ziyuan","family":"Cao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hao","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xipeng","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuxuan","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiangli","family":"Yu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wei","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"951684693","DOI":"10.1177\/23259671221079637","article-title":"Return to play and performance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in National Football League players","volume":"10","author":"Mody","year":"2022","journal-title":"Orthop J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1525","DOI":"10.1007\/s00264-023-06037-9","article-title":"Outcomes of physeal-sparing posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction for adolescents with an open physis","volume":"48","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int Orthop"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1909.sp001311","article-title":"A mammalian spinal preparation","volume":"38","author":"Sherrington","year":"1909","journal-title":"J Physiol"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"833","DOI":"10.1302\/0301-620X.73B5.1894677","article-title":"Proprioception and function after anterior cruciate reconstruction","volume":"73","author":"Barrett","year":"1991","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg Br"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105010","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmbbm.2021.105010","article-title":"Local variations in mechanical properties of human hamstring tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction do not translate to a mechanically inferior strand","volume":"126","author":"van Vijven","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Mech Behav Biomed Mater"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2016.1167231","article-title":"Kinematic characteristics of anterior cruciate ligament deficient knees with concomitant meniscus deficiency during ascending stairs","volume":"35","author":"Zhang","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-444-52901-5.00001-0","article-title":"Neural plasticity and its contribution to functional recovery","volume":"110","author":"Sharma","year":"2013","journal-title":"Handb Clin Neurol"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"473","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0838.2007.00702.x","article-title":"Changed cortical activity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in a joint position paradigm: an EEG study","volume":"18","author":"Baumeister","year":"2008","journal-title":"Scand J Med Sci Sports"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1383","DOI":"10.1002\/jor.21380","article-title":"Altered electrocortical brain activity after ACL reconstruction during force control","volume":"29","author":"Baumeister","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Orthop Res"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e207","DOI":"10.1016\/j.asmr.2022.11.015","article-title":"Quadriceps weakness is associated with neuroplastic changes within specific corticospinal pathways and brain areas after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: theoretical utility of motor imagery-based brain-computer interface technology for rehabilitation","volume":"5","author":"Patel","year":"2023","journal-title":"Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2419","DOI":"10.1177\/0363546509343201","article-title":"Anterior cruciate ligament deficiency causes brain plasticity: a functional MRI study","volume":"37","author":"Kapreli","year":"2009","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"957364","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2022.957364","article-title":"The correlations between kinematic profiles and cerebral hemodynamics suggest changes of motor coordination in single and bilateral finger movement","volume":"16","author":"Zhou","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Hum Neurosci"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1007\/s10548-015-0443-5","article-title":"Motor cortex activity during functional motor skills: an fNIRS study","volume":"29","author":"Nishiyori","year":"2016","journal-title":"Brain Topogr"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"645","DOI":"10.1123\/jsr.2022-0288","article-title":"Differences in neurocognitive functions between healthy controls and anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed male athletes who passed or failed return to sport criteria: a preliminary study","volume":"32","author":"Kiani Haft Lang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Sport Rehabil"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"718","DOI":"10.4085\/1062-6050-448-17","article-title":"Alterations in cortical activation among individuals with chronic ankle instability during single-limb postural control","volume":"54","author":"Rosen","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Athl Train"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1005","DOI":"10.4085\/1062-6050-50.10.02","article-title":"Brain activation for knee movement measured days before second anterior cruciate ligament injury: neuroimaging in musculoskeletal medicine","volume":"50","author":"Grooms","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Athl Train"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainresbull.2009.02.001","article-title":"\u201cNeural efficiency\u201d of athletes\u2019 brain for upright standing: a high-resolution EEG study","volume":"79","author":"Del Percio","year":"2009","journal-title":"Brain Res Bull"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nicl.2016.07.013","article-title":"Functional near infrared spectroscopy as a probe of brain function in people with prolonged disorders of consciousness","volume":"12","author":"Kempny","year":"2016","journal-title":"NeuroImage Clin"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1007\/s11682-014-9302-3","article-title":"Reliability of negative BOLD in ipsilateral sensorimotor areas during unimanual task activity","volume":"9","author":"McGregor","year":"2015","journal-title":"Brain Imaging Behav"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"614","DOI":"10.1080\/10749357.2020.1864986","article-title":"Relationship between lower limb function and functional connectivity assessed by EEG among motor-related areas after stroke","volume":"28","author":"Hoshino","year":"2021","journal-title":"Top Stroke Rehabil"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.2519\/jospt.2017.7003","article-title":"Neuroplasticity associated with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction","volume":"47","author":"Grooms","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Orthop Sports Phys Ther"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.3390\/biology11010119","article-title":"Anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed patients who recovered normal postural control have dissimilar brain activation patterns compared to healthy controls","volume":"11","author":"An","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biology"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1186\/s13018-024-04790-0","article-title":"Central imaging based on near-infrared functional imaging technology can be useful to plan management in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability","volume":"19","author":"Luo","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Orthop Surg Res"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s00221-006-0715-0","article-title":"Adaptation of postural orientation to changes in surface inclination","volume":"178","author":"Kluzik","year":"2007","journal-title":"Exp Brain Res"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1093\/bmb\/ldz019","article-title":"Arthroscopic primary repair of the anterior cruciate ligament in adults: a systematic review","volume":"131","author":"Papalia","year":"2019","journal-title":"Br Med Bull"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1176054","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2023.1176054","article-title":"The interaction between changes of muscle activation and cortical network dynamics during isometric elbow contraction: a sEMG and fNIRS study","volume":"11","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Bioeng Biotechnol"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1111\/ner.13483","article-title":"Biomarkers for deep brain stimulation in animal models of depression","volume":"25","author":"Yuen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Neuromodulation"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Neurology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fneur.2024.1500579\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]],"date-time":"2025-01-07T15:53:09Z","timestamp":1736265189000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fneur.2024.1500579\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]]},"references-count":27,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fneur.2024.1500579"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fneur.2024.1500579","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-2295"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-2295","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]]},"article-number":"1500579"}}