title: Quadriceps and Hamstring Strength Recovery During Early Neuromuscular Rehabilitation After ACL Hamstring-Tendon Autograft Reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is lack of information related to quadriceps and hamstring strength recovery during the early period of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using hamstring-tendon graft (HTG).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate quadriceps and hamstring isometric strength at 4-, 8-, and 12-wk time points after ACLR and to document the strength changes of these muscles over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 patients (age 28.1 ± 8.1 y) who underwent unilateral single-bundle anatomic ACLR with 4-strand semitendinosus and gracilis tendon graft.
  
  
  METHODS
  The isometric strength of quadriceps and hamstring muscles was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer at a 60° knee-flexion angle 4, 8, and 12 wk after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quadriceps and hamstring strength significantly increased over time for both the involved limb (quadriceps F2,46 = 58.3, P < .001; hamstring F2,46 = 35.7, P < .001) and uninvolved limb (quadriceps F2,46 = 17.9, P < .001; hamstring F2,46 =56.9, P = .001). Quadriceps and hamstring indexes significantly changed from 4 wk (QI 57.9, HI 54.4) to 8 wk (QI 78.8, HI 69.9) and from 8 wk to 12 wk (QI 82, HI 75.7) (P < .001); however, there was no difference between indexes at the 12-wk time point (P = .17).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study serve as a reference for clinicians while directing a rehabilitation protocol for HTG ACLR patients to better appreciate expected strength changes of the muscles in the early phase of recovery.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulcan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harput
authors.forename: H Erkan
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kilinc
authors.forename: Hamza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: Gul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baltaci
authors.forename: Carl G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mattacola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D064592:Autografts; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods