title: The effect of proprioception exercises on functional status in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate knee proprioception in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and to assess the effectiveness of an exercise program consisting mainly of proprioception exercises addressing pain, proprioception, and functional status following ACL reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty male patients, diagnosed with unilateral ACL injury and scheduled for reconstruction, participated in the study along with 16 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Arthroscopic reconstruction of the ACL using autologous hamstring tendon was performed in every case by the same surgeon. After the operation, a six-month rehabilitation program was initiated. Knee proprioception, pain, and functional status were evaluated before and six months after the reconstruction. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate proprioception and a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale were used to evaluate pain and functional status respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative proprioception loss was detected on the patients' injured side when compared to the uninjured side and to healthy volunteers (p = 0.00). A significant improvement was found in pain severity, proprioception, and functional capacity after the postoperative six-month rehabilitation program (p = 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative proprioception loss was detected in ACL-injured patients. The rehabilitation program predominantly consisting of proprioception exercises provided considerable improvement on knee proprioception and functional status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beyhekim State Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ordahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Meram Medical School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Küçükşen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Tuncay
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Meram Medical School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salli
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Meram Medical School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uǧurlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament injury; functional status; proprioception