Knee joint proprioception in normal volunteers and patients with anterior cruciate ligament tears, taking special account of the effect of a knee bandage.

Proprioception of the knee joint was tested in 30 healthy volunteers with clinically inconspicuous knee joints. To examine proprioception, an angle reproduction test was performed. We could not document any differences between the left and the right knee joint or between men and women. At the mid-range, proprioception was worse compared with the end range of motion. In addition, 25 patients with an isolated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament were evaluated, 14 before and 11 after operative anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Preoperatively, there was a significant deterioration of proprioception compared with the control group. We were able to show a positive influence of a knee bandage on the proprioception of the injured knee. Patients after ACL reconstruction showed no significantly better proprioception compared with the preoperative group.