Water Treadmill Therapy After Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament ACL – Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: The knee joint is one of the most commonly injured joints, especially among physically active persons. In turn, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the knee ligament which is most frequently torn. Water treadmill therapy is one of the forms of rehabilitation available for patients after ACL reconstruction. Materials and Method: The case of a 38-year-old woman is presented who during parachute jumping sustained injury to the knee joint on landing. Using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) a tear of the ACL was diagnosed. Physiotherapeutic examination was performed: palpation and visual observation of both knee joints: assessment of position of the patella and the axes of the lower limbs, assessment of joint temperature, patella ballottement sign, and tenderness. In order to objectively monitor the progress of therapy measurements were taken of the circumference of the lower limbs, and pain complains assessed according to the VAS scale. Eight weeks after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, the patient underwent 30 treadmill therapy treatments. Results: Quadriceps muscle mass gain and reduction of the knee joint swelling were observed. Full range of knee joint motion was confirmed, and lack of pain in the medial compartment of the knee joint. Conclusions: Water treadmill therapy is an effective supplementation of the process of patient rehabilitation after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament.