Early rehabilitation of acute anterior cruciate ligament injury--a randomized clinical trial.
The efficacy of a 6-week rehabilitation program was evaluated in 100 consecutive patients, age 15-42 years, with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Arthroscopy revealed associated lesions in 82% of the patients. Except for resections on menisci with large and unstable lesions, no surgery was performed. The patients were randomly assigned to supervised training or self-monitored training after instruction.


RESULTS
At the 6-week follow-up there was no difference between the groups with regard to pain at rest, pain during walking, or experience of giving-way episodes, Tegner activity level of Lysholm knee score. Only 2 of the 100 patients were observed without joint mobility restriction. The only significant difference between the groups was the improvement of muscle function in men in the supervised training group.


CONCLUSIONS
Six weeks' rehabilitation is too short a time period from original injury to obtain normal mobility and restored knee function.
Zätterström
R
R
Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Fridén
T
T
Lindstrand
A
A
Moritz
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012421:Rupture; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome