Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University
Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden | [b] Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska Academy at
Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden | [c] Institution of Neuroscience and
Physiology/Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University,
Göteborg, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Birgitta Nyberg, Dept of
Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Mölndal, S-43180
Mölndal, Sweden. Tel.: +46 31 3431464; Fax: +46 31 3431900; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze long-term changes in muscle
strength and jumping ability and to assess the relationship between these
parameters after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Sixty-three
patients (39 men) with a mean age of 30.3 years (range 19–42) who
underwent an ACL reconstruction between 1990–1992 participated in the
study. Quadriceps and hamstring isometric and isokinetic strength as well as
one-leg hop test for distance were measured preoperatively and six months 1, 2,
3 and 10 years postoperatively. The injured leg was significantly weaker than
the non-injured leg in knee extension strength on all test occasions and in
knee flexion strength except at ten years. There was a strong correlation
between the muscle strength tests at different speeds. The one leg hop for
distance showed significant differences between the injured and non-injured leg
on all test occasions. A moderate to high correlation was observed between
muscle strength and jumping ability with higher values for the non-injured leg.
In our study we found a persisting weakness in the quadriceps as well as
jumping ability during ten years. This is an indication that it is hard to
recover the preoperative functional level after an ACL reconstruction.
