Virtual Reality Rehabilitation for Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Early Domestic Rehabilitation Using Virtual Reality for Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether 4 weeks of daily virtual-reality-based rehabilitation at home improves disability in the early stages of recovery from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery compared with standard care.

After being informed about the study and potential risks and benefits, patients giving written informed consent will be randomized to one of two groups in a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group will perform daily a 20-minute rehabilitation session in virtual reality, in which they will observe their virtual body performing a series of exercises they would otherwise be unable to perform in real life. Both groups will also undergo the standard rehabilitation protocol. The investigators will assess for differences between groups in self-reported disability, knee range of motion, and quadriceps strength at baseline, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 9 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18-40 (either sex)
• Post-operative anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (autograft), either bone-patellar tendon-bone graft or semitendinosus (hamstring) graft

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with significant cognitive deficit (MEC<24).
• Patients with epilepsy or severe vision problems
• Pregnant patients
• Previous surgery on the reconstructed knee, excluding arthroscopy
• Previous anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on either knee
• Sustained concurrent injury to the contralateral knee
• Concomitant collateral ligament and/or meniscal repair
• Presence of symptomatic tibiofemoral osteoarthritis