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Early rehabilitation of acute anterior cruciate ligament injury—a randomized clinical trial
Author(s) -
Zätterström R.,
Fridén T.,
Lindstrand A.,
Moritz U.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.1998.tb00186.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rehabilitation , anterior cruciate ligament , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , arthroscopy , acl injury , knee joint , significant difference , surgery
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 or 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. Conclusion: Six weeks' rehabilitation is too short a time period from original injury to obtain normal mobility and restored knee function.