Functional Outcomes of an Accelerated Rehabilitation Protocol for ACL Reconstruction in Amateur Athletes

Functional Outcomes of a Criterion-based Rehabilitation Protocol for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Amateur Athletes: a Randomized Clinical Trial

The main goal of a rehabilitation program after an ACL reconstruction is to regain mobility and muscle function and ultimately to return to sports participation. Purpose of the study: to investigate the effect of the accelerated rehabilitation program on knee pain, and function in patients post ACLR surgery. Fifty adult amateur males athletes who underwent ACLR surgery participated in this study, their age ranged from 18 to 35years.They were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Group (A) received accelerated rehabilitation protocol and group (B) received conventional physical therapy program. Treatment sessions were conducted 5 times per week for 22 weeks for both groups. All patients assessed pre and post treatment for pain intensity using visual analogue scale (VAS), and knee function using knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), knee effusion, and LSI of Hop test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients were participated in this study if they fulfilled the following criteria:

  • Underwent pre-operative rehabilitation program with minimal knee effusion and full extension, good patellofemoral mobility, and the patient can actively control the quadriceps.
  • Have an ACLR with an autolongous hamstring (HT) graft.
  • Age range from 18-40 years old.
  • Football players or who perform physically demanding work.
  • Have no other ligamentous injury.
  • Have nomeniscectomy previous to or simultaneouswith ACLR.
  • Have no cartilage damage.

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Patients younger than 18 or older than 35 years old

  • Have ACLR with any graft other than hamstring (HT) graft
  • Have ACL revision surgery
  • Have other ligamentous injury
  • Have a meniscectomy previous to or simultaneous with ACLR.
  • Had meniscal repair simultaneously with ACLR
  • Have cartilage damage.