Clinical bottom Line:
• The earlier CKC exercises are started the greater effect they will have on muscle strength and increasing ROM. 1-2 weeks post-op is an optimal time to implement these exercises into the treatment regimen.
• CKC exercises are more effective than OKC exercises for improving mobility and providing a quicker recovery for the patient.
• Weight-bearing and full extension implemented early in the treatment is beneficial to the patient’s recovery and should ideally be done on day one post surgery.
• The ACL rehabilitation program performed in this study would be useful as a post ACL reconstruction protocol for patients of varying ages and functional abilities.
Summary of Key Evidence:
1. Study design: This study has a prospective…show more content… Outcome measures: Pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale. Thigh circumference was measured 15 cm above the upper edge of patella using a tape measure to test the difference between the operated and non-operated leg. A goniometer was used to measure knee flexion ROM. To assess knee function, the testers used Lysholm scores. All outcome measures were completed before surgery to get a baseline measurement for both groups and then again at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.
10. Main findings of the article: Analysis of outcome measure scores between the two groups showed significant improvements post intervention, 3 and 6 months post-op, as compared with the baseline scores (p < 0.05).1 The CKC group showed greater improvements than the OKC group in VAS scores, knee flexion, and Lysholm scores. The Lysholm scores for both groups showed significant increases at 6 months post-op (p > 0.05).1
11. Original authors conclusions: The authors of this study conclude that OKC exercises are not as effective as CKC exercises are when it comes to improving mobilization and speeding up recovery post ACL reconstruction. CKC exercises completed while the participant is weight-bearing are more proficient at increasing ROM and strengthening quadriceps…show more content… Other thoughts: I found it interesting that throughout the discussion section the authors referenced a lot of other studies as comparison to the results obtained from this study. Some of the studies referenced had different results than this study but none could come up with a consensus regarding post ACL reconstruction rehabilitation protocol.
10. Summary/Conclusion: The participants who solely performed CKC exercises had better results then the OKC exercise group. However, this study does not address whether or not the combination of the two types of exercises, done in conjunction with each other, would have a significant effect on the recovery process. This study targets a very specific population and therefore is hard to generalize the results to every patient who undergoes ACL reconstruction. All of the participants in this study had positive results and benefited from partaking in the treatment program.
11. Implications for practice and future research: It would be beneficial for physical therapists to implement CKC exercises 1-2 weeks into the start of a patient’s rehabilitation protocol post ACL reconstruction. These exercises, along with early weight-bearing, will help improve patient function, strength, ROM, and speed of recovery. Further research should be conducted to see if these results are still true for a wider range of subjects. Also, a study should be conducted to see whether or not OKC exercises would be more beneficial if combined with CKC exercises rather
