[Control of muscle reinforcement with the isokinetic endurance test in patients undergoing reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee].

Abstract

In the present study authors analyzed a group of fifty patients (mean age 24.3 years) affected by a chronic lesion of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee, who underwent a ACL reconstruction by free patellar tendon in arthroscopy. Each of these patients carried out a standardized rehabilitative training and underwent an isokinetic evaluation immediately before and at 3, 4 and 6 months after ACL reconstruction. The considered parameters were the increasing of both strength and work in the standardized times at the angular speed of 60 and 180 degrees/sec. Our results, compared to the pre surgery, showed a high decrease of both strength and work at the third month after surgery, especially regarding the extensor muscles (-44% and -38% respectively); we observed an increase between the third and the fourth month, even if the parameters of the extensors still remain much lower than the controlateral healthy side.