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Knee Injury

Physical Activity After ACL Reconstruction

Physical inactivity is the strongest predictor of morbidity and premature mortality among the American population. Significant musculoskeletal injury early in the life span can have negative effects on participation physical activity and engagement in sport. Our research is focused on assessing and addressing the effects of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) on objective and patient-reported measures of physical activity, and cardiovascular health among young and otherwise healthy individuals with the goal of promoting long-term health and wellbeing.

  • Lisee C, Montoye A, Lewallen N, Hernandez M, Bell DR, Kuenze C. Assessment of Free-Living Cadence Using Actigraph Accelerometers among Individuals With and Without ACL Reconstruction. J Athl Train. (IN PRESS)
  • Baez SE, Hoch MC, Hoch JM. Psychological Factors are Associated with Return to Pre-injury Levels of Sport and Physical Activity after ACL Reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2020 Feb; 28(2): 495-501. PMID: 31486916. [PubMed]
  • Kuenze C, Lisee C, Pfeiffer KA, Cadmus-Bertram L, Post EG, Biese K, Bell DR. Sex Differences in Physical Activity Engagement after ACL Reconstruction. Phys Ther Sport. 2018 Jan: 35; 12-17. PMID: 30396146. [PubMed]
  • Kuenze CM, Cadmus-Bertram L, Pfeiffer KA, Trigsted S, Cook D, Lisee C, Bell DR. Relationship Between Physical Activity and Clinical Outcomes after ACL Reconstruction. J Sport Rehabil. 2019 Feb, 28(2): 180-187. PMID: 29140161. [PubMed]
  • Bell DR, Pfeiffer KP, Cadmus-Bertram L, Hart JM, Kelly AR, Trigsted SM, Post EG, Dunn WR, Kuenze CM. Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Patients after ACL Reconstruction. Am J Sport Med. 2017 Jul; 45(8): 1893-1900. PMID: 28419817. [PubMed]

Perceptions Return to Activity After ACL Reconstruction

Patients struggle to return to pre-injury levels of activity following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) for physical and psychosocial reasons. Our research focuses on the ability to integrate contextual evidence obtained directly from patients with the growing body of quantitative rehabilitation research in order to aid clinicians in taking an evidence-based approach to rehabilitation and return to sport.

  • Lisee C, DiSanti J, Ling J, Chan M, Erickson K, Shingles M, Kuenze C. Gender Differences in Perceived Barriers to Return to Activity following ACL Aeconstruction. J Athl Train. (IN PRESS)
  • Kuenze C, Bell DR, Grindstaff T, Lisee C, Birchmeier T, Triplett A, Pietrosimone B. A Comparison of Psychological Readiness and Patient-Reported Function Between Sexes after ACL Reconstruction. J Athl Train. (IN PRESS)
  • Kuenze C, Pietrosimone B, Lisee CL, Rutherford M, Birchmeier T, Lepley AS, Hart JM. Demographic and Surgical Factors Affect Quadriceps Strength after ACL Reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2019 Mar; 27(3): 921-930. PMID: 30327821. [PubMed]
  • DiSanti J, Lisee C, Erickson K, Bell DR, Shingles M, Kuenze C. Perceptions of Rehabilitation and Return to Sport among High School Athletes with ACL Reconstruction: A Qualitative Research Study. J Orthop Sport Phys. 2018 Dec; 48(12): 951-959. PMID: 29932875. [PubMed]

Neuromuscular Function After ACL Reconstruction

Identification of individuals at risk for poor outcomes following ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is an essential step in facilitating a timely, safe, and healthy return to physical activity. Our research focuses on identifying peripheral and central neuromuscular risk factors for compromised joint health and poor knee related outcomes following ACLR. Currently, the SIRL is utilizing a variety of techniques including assessment of muscle strength and function, direct and indirect assessment of muscle structure and function to pursue this area of research.

  • Lisee CL, Lepley A, O’Hagan K, Kuenze C. Quadriceps Strength and Volitional Activation after ACL Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Health. 2019 Mar/Apr; 11(2): 163-179. PMID: 30638441. [PubMed]
  • Birchmeier T, Lisee C, Kane K, Brazier B, Triplett A, Kuenze C. Quadriceps Muscle Size Following ACL Injury and Reconstruction: A Systematic Review. J Orthop Res. 2020 Mar; 38(3): 598-608. PMID: 31608490. [PubMed]
  • Kuenze C, Lisee C, Birchmeier T, Triplett A, Wilcox L, Schorfhaar A, Shingles M. Sex Differences in Quadriceps Rate of Torque Development Within 1 Year of ACL Reconstruction. Phys Ther Sport. 2019 Jul; 38: 36-43. PMID: 31042614. [PubMed]
  • Lisee C, Lepley AS, Birchmeier T, O’Hagan K, Kuenze C. Quadriceps Strength and Volitional Activation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Health. 2019 Mar/Apr; 11(2): 163-179. PMID: 30638441. [PubMed]
  • Kuenze C, Pietrosimone B, Lisee C, Rutherford M, Birchmeier T, Lepley A, Hart JM. Demographic and Surgical Factors Affect Quadriceps Strength after ACL Reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2019 Mar; 27(3): 921-930. PMID: 30327821. [PubMed]
  • Ward SH, Blackburn JT, Padua DA, Stanley LE, Harkey MS , Luc-Harkey BA, Pietrosimone B. Quadriceps Neuromuscular Function and Jump-Landing Sagittal-Plane Knee Biomechanics After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Published in Journal of Athletic Training. 2018 Feb. 53(2):135-43. PMID: 29350554. PMCID: PMC5842904.
  • Pietrosimone B, Kuenze C, Hart JM, Thigpen C, Lepley AS, Blackburn JT, Padua DA, Grindstaff T, Davis H, Bell D. Weak Associations between Body Mass Index and Self-reported disability in People with Unilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2018 May; 26(5): 1326-1334. PMID: 28849248. [PubMed]

Lower Extremity Biomechanics After ACL Reconstruction

Cost effective and objective assessment of lower extremity function and physical activity characteristics represent a clear improvement over standard tools for clinical evaluation of injury risk factors as well as progression throughout clinical rehabilitation. Our current research focuses on the integration of commercially available video game technology and advanced machine learning modeling techniques to facilitate objective measurement of lower extremity function in the clinical environment and phsyical activity characteristics in the field.

  • Davis-Wilson HC, Pfeiffer SJ, Johnston CD, Seeley MK, Harkey MS , Blackburn JT, Fockler RP, Spang JT, Pietrosimone B. Bilateral Gait 6 and 12 Months Post-Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Compared with Controls. Published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2020 Apr. 52(4):785-794. PMID: 31809411. PMCID: PMC7078064.
  • Lisee C, Birchmeier T, Yan A, Kuenze C. Associations Between Isometric Quadriceps Strength Characteristics, Knee Flexion Angles, and Knee Extension Moments During Single Leg Step Down and Landing Tasks after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2019 Dec; 70: 231-236. PMID: 31669921. [PubMed]
  • Birchmeier T, Lisee C, Geers B, Kuenze C. Reactive Strength Index and Knee Extension Strength Characteristics are Predictive of Single Leg Hop Performance after ACL Reconstruction. J Strength Cond Res. 2019 May; 33(5): 1201-1207. PMID: 30844991. [PubMed]
  • Eltoukhy M, Kuenze C, Oh J, Apanovitch E, Butler L, Signorile JF. Concurrent Validity of Depth-Sensing Cameras for Noncontact ACL Injury Screening During Side-Cut Maneuvers in Adolescent Athletes: A Preliminary Study. J Appl Biomech. 2019 Feb; 35(1): 2-10. PMID: 29989470. [PubMed]
  • Pfeiffer S, Spang J, Nissman D, Lalush D, Wallace K, Harkey MS , Stanley L, Schmitz R, Schwartz T, Blackburn JT, Pietrosimone B. Gait Mechanics and T1rho MRI of Tibiofemoral Cartilage 6 Months Post ACL Reconstruction. Published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.. 2019 Apr; 51(4):630-639. PMID: 30444797.
  • Lepley A, Kuenze CM. Hip and Knee Kinematics and Kinetics During Landing Tasks After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Athl Train. 2018 Feb; 53(2): 144-159. PMID: 29350551. [PubMed]

Research Facilities

The Sports Injury Research Lab (SIRL) is a 1,000 sq ft laboratory on the campus of Michigan State University. The SIRL features a full compliment of equipment and resources to enable the assessment of physical activity, lower extremity neuromuscular function, and lower extremity biomechanics among individuals with a history of knee injury. Key equipment includes: