In-water versus on-land post-operative rehabilitation for anterior cruciate ligament repair

الملخص EN

This study was designed to compare the results following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair with post-operative rehabilitation performed in two different environments, the traditional on-land rehabilitation program versus in-pool rehabilitation program.

The effects on recovery of the range of motion (ROM), joint effusion, strength and girth of the muscles and the functional outcome were evaluated.

Thirty patients were operated upon by the same surgeon using the same technique and were randomly assigned into two different groups.

Group I: patients were subjected to post-operative regimen of in-pool rehabilitation.

Group II: patients were managed with the traditional floor rehabilitation program.

Measurement of the ROM, muscle strength, girth, joint effusion, and ligamentous laxity were all done and assessed at two weeks’ intervals post-operatively for eight weeks with the final assessment at six months post-operative.

The results showed that group I treated with in-water program showed equal or better scores in most of the parameters during all the assessment intervals except the muscle strength which was greater in the group II.

But at six months post-operative, both regimens gave excellent results of similar values.

The mean time for patients to return to normal daily living activities was 6.2 weeks postoperatively.

As a whole, patients exhibited full range of motion, excellent stability, good strength, and a return of full function in most cases.