title: Effects of hip strengthening on early outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is not clear whether the addition of hip strengthening exercises will improve outcomes during the early stages of ACL rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the addition of isolated hip strengthening exercises to traditional rehabilitation on early outcomes (within the first 3 months) after ACL reconstruction (ACLR).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 43 subjects (18.8±6.9, 21 females, 22 males) who were in the process of rehabilitation following ACLR participated. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two different treatment groups (1= traditional rehabilitation [NoHip], 2= traditional plus isolated hip strengthening rehabilitation [Hip]). Assessment included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain during activities of daily living, and knee extension range of motion (ROM) side to side difference taken at weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12. In addition, dynamic balance was assessed with the Y Balance Test™ at 8 and 12 weeks. A mixed model repeated measures ANOVA was performed for IKDC, VAS, and ROM. A one-way ANOVA was used to assess mean group differences for Y Balance Test - Lower Quarter (YBT-LQ) side to side difference scores at 8 and 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant interaction for group by time across VAS (p = .463), IKDC (p = .819), or ROM (p = .513) side to side differences A significant difference was found between groups for YBT-LQ Anterior Reach (ANT) side to side difference at 12 weeks (p = .008) with the Hip group demonstrating smaller side to side reach differences than the NoHip group. No significant side to side differences were seen between groups for YBT-LQ Posteromedial (PM) or Posterolateral (PL) at 12 weeks (PM: p = .254; PL: p = .617).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rehabilitation including hip strengthening exercises appears to improve sagittal plane dynamic balance at three months post ACLR as compared to traditional rehabilitation. No differences were seen between groups for pain, ROM, and subjective function during the first 3 months following ACLR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 2b.
authors.affiliation: Texas Health Ben Hogan Sports Medicine, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors.forename: J Craig
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Garrison
authors.affiliation: Texas Health Physicians Group, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bothwell
authors.affiliation: Texas Health Ben Hogan Sports Medicine, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kiley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Texas Health Physicians Group, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conway
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; hip strengthening; rehabilitation