Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Plyometric Exercise

University of Florida

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Treatments: Behavioral: Plyometric Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01851655

156-2008

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a single-center, randomized, double-blind (subject/evaluator)study. Enrolled patients had anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and met criteria for advanced rehabilitation. The study included 8 weeks of advanced rehabilitation consisting of low- or high-intensity plyometric exercise. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of plyometric exercise intensity on knee function and knee cartilage in patients with ACL reconstruction.

Full description

As part of the study, investigators will insure patients meet the criteria for advanced rehabilitation based on knee motion, pain levels and quadriceps strength.

Participants will be asked to review the informed consent and consent to the study prior to any study procedures. The study will consist of 2 testing sessions and an 8 week intervention (2 visits per week) at the UF&Shands Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute. The testing sessions will include clinical measures of knee impairments, questionnaires, biomechanical analysis and functional performance testing.

Enrollment: 25 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15 to 30 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. time from injury to ACL reconstruction is no greater than 6 months,
2. pre-injury activity level includes participation in high-demand activities, and
3. meet the criteria for advanced rehabilitation including full active knee extension, active knee flexion within 5 degrees of the contralateral side, pain rating no greater or equal to 1/10 with activities of daily living, and involved side knee extensor strength at least 60% of the contralateral side.

Exclusion criteria

1. bilateral knee injury,
2. prior knee ligament injury and/or surgery,
3. concomitant other ligamentous injury > Grade I,
4. meniscal repair performed in conjunction with ACL reconstruction,
5. cartilage repair procedure performed in conjunction with ACL reconstruction,
6. complications during surgery requiring protocol modification, and
7. renal disease.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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25 participants in 2 patient groups

Plyometric Exercise - High intensity

Experimental group

Description:

The exercises should produce a higher peak vertical ground reaction force than those in the low group based on literature findings (e.g. single leg jumps, jumps from higher heights, higher percent effort).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Plyometric Exercise

Plyometric Exercise - Low intensity

Active Comparator group

Description:

A lower peak vertical ground reaction force will be generated in the low intensity group compared to the high intensity group based on findings in the literature (e.g. lower box heights, only two-legged jumps, lower percent effort)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Plyometric Exercise