Changes in Involved and Uninvolved Limb Function During Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract

During ACL reconstruction rehabilitation, LSI improvements indicated absolute increases in involved limb ability and were not attributable to uninvolved limb deterioration. The single-leg squat, retro step-up, single-leg hop, crossover triple hop, and timed hop are suggested as highly useful tests, since all showed initial LSI below 90%, with significant LSI improvement after rehabilitation.

Evaluation of lower limb kinetics during gait, sprint and hop tests before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

“…Our results seem to be consistent with those reported by other authors [14, 15], showing symmetry restoration and functional recovery before and after ACLR in gait, sprint and single-leg hop tests. However, we were not able to observe this phenomenon in all tests performed, since both the drop vertical jump and the vertical hop test did not improve their LSI after ACLR.…”

“…However, we were not able to observe this phenomenon in all tests performed, since both the drop vertical jump and the vertical hop test did not improve their LSI after ACLR. Logerstedt et al [15] evaluated functional recovery (quadriceps strength testing, hop testing, and self-reported questionnaires for knee function) in eighty-three athletes after an ACL injury, and at different times after ACLR. They concluded that limb to limb asymmetries are reduced, and normal limb symmetry is returned to a similar level 6 months after ACLR.…”

“…For this reason, it has been suggested that isolation of the involved limb with unilateral hop tests should be performed to detect discrepancies in function [13]. Previous studies have shown symmetry restoration and functional recovery before and after ACLR after evaluating the hop distances and times of the involved and uninvolved extremity [14, 15]. However, to our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the kinetics of the injured and non-injured limb (before and after ACLR) during different strenuous activities, ranging from simple walking (gait analysis) to sprint, and different hop tests (including single-leg and bilateral tests).…”

Changes in the Uninvolved Limb during Rehabilitation Following ACL Reconstruction, and Recommendations for a Practical and Evidence-Based Functional Testing Battery

“…Our recent study described a pattern of improvement in the uninvolved limb that must be accounted for when measuring progress during post-operative rehabilitation; in addition we identified the tests within the functional test battery that demonstrated the most significant changes over time [1].…”

Biomechanical Adaptations After Fatiguing Exercise in Healthy and ACL Reconstructed Individuals

“…71 Quadriceps strength of the ACLR limb is often evaluated in comparison to the contralateral limb for a measure of limb symmetry index. 24,168 Quadriceps strength asymmetry is present after initial ACL injury and increases six months after reconstruction. 45,97 Deficits in quadriceps strength symmetry are present in both isometric and isokinetic movements.…”