Muscle strength and function before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using semitendonosus and gracilis

• Published in: The knee Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 229 - 234
• Main Authors: Keays, S.L., Bullock-Saxton, J., Keays, A.C., Newcombe, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2001
• Subjects: Adult; Anterior cruciate ligament; Anterior Cruciate Ligament - surgery; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Female; Function; Humans; Male; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Physical Therapy Specialty; Postoperative Period; Rupture; Strength; Tendons - transplantation; Time Factors; Function; Anterior cruciate ligament; Strength
• ISSN: 0968-0160; 1873-5800
• DOI: 10.1016/S0968-0160(01)00099-0

This study assessed the quadriceps and hamstring strength before and 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery using the hamstrings and related the findings to functional performance. Six months after surgery is a critical time for assessment as this is when players are returning to sport. Maximum isokinetic strength of 31 patients with complete unilateral ACL ruptures was measured at speeds of 60° and 120° per second. Functional assessment included the single hop, the triple hop, the shuttle run, side-step and carioca tests. All patients underwent a controlled quadriceps emphasized home-based physiotherapy program both before and after surgery. Results show that before surgery there was a 7.3% quadriceps strength deficit at 60° per second compared to the uninjured leg but no hamstring strength deficit. After surgery there was a statistically significant but relatively small loss of muscle strength. The quadriceps strength deficit had increased to 12% and there was a 10% hamstring deficit. Post-operatively there was an 11% and 6.3% improvement in the hop tests, a 9% ( P<0.01) improvement in the shuttle run, a 15% ( P<0.001) improvement in the side step and a 24% ( P<0.001) improvement in the carioca tests ( P<0.001) despite the loss of muscle strength.