Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation: A 12-Week Follow-Up of Isokinetic Testing in Recreational Athletes

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wilk, Kevin E.^{a; *; **} | Arrigo, Chris A.^{a; ***} | Andrews, James R.^{a; ****; *****} | Clancy, William G.^{a; ******} | Lemak, Lawrence^{a; *******} | Erber, Donna^{a; ********} | Hinger, David^{a; *********}

Affiliations: [a] Healthsouth Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Sports Medicine Institute, and Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center

Note: [*] Associate Clinical Director and Director of Research and Clinical Education, Healthsouth Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Birmingham, AL; and Director of Rehabilitative Research, American Sports Medicine Institute, Birmingham, AL.

Note: [**] Address reprint requests to Mr. Kevin E. Wilk, Clinical Director, Healthsouth Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1201 11th Avenue South, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35205.

Note: [***] Healthsouth Sports Medicine, Birmingham, AL.

Note: [****] Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, Birmingham, AL.

Note: [*****] Medical Director, American Sports Medicine Institute, Birmingham, AL.

Note: [******] Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, Birmingham, AL.

Note: [*******] Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, Birmingham, AL.

Note: [********] Healthsouth Sports Medicine, Birmingham, AL.

Note: [*********] Healthsouth Sports Medicine, Birmingham, AL.

Abstract: Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery is designed to prevent the many complications once reported after this procedure. Today, the rehabilitation program emphasizes immediate motion, immediate weight bearing, and early strengthening exercises for the knee extensors and flexors. This study details the isokinetic muscular performance data of 250 male recreational athletes collected at 12 weeks postsurgery. The results demonstrated statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) for the knee extensors parameters of peak torque, torque to body weight, total work, and average power at 180 and 300 deg/sec. The knee flexors exhibited a significant difference at 180 deg/sec for all isokinetic parameters and no significant difference at 300 deg/sec. The results indicate that at 12 weeks after ACL patellar tendon autograft reconstruction using an aggressive rehabilitation program, the knee flexors' muscular strength appears nearly equal to the contralateral knee, whereas the quadriceps exhibits a deficit of 24–31% in recreational athletes.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, aggressive rehabilitation, isokinetic assessment, criterion-based protocol

DOI: 10.3233/IES-1992-2208

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 82-91, 1992