EFFECT OF RUNNING ON ANTERIOR KNEE LAXITY IN COLLEGIATE-LEVEL FEMALE ATHLETES AFTER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

Agility running activities are commonly used in the latter stages oi r ehabilitation for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. How ever, the effects of agility running on anterior knee laxity in these patients have not been examined. The purpose oi this study was to exam ine changes in anterior knee laxity before and after 30 minutes oi agi lity running exercise. Subjects (N = 9) were female athletes (($) over bar X age = 20.1 +/- 1.5 years; height = 171.7 +/- 10.4 cm; weight = 65.7 +/- 8.6 kg) with unilateral ACL reconstruction (central 1/3 patel la tendon graft, postoperation range = 9-52 months, ($) over bar X = 2 4.2 months). Measurements were made at 20 degrees and 90 degrees of kn ee flexion bilaterally with KT-1000 arthrometry (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA) and recorded in millimeters oi displacement. Data were analyzed w ith an analysis oi variance (ANOVA) with repealed measures (p < 0.05). Results showed no statistical differences between the ACL-reconstruct ed knee and the normal knee al 20 degrees and 90 degrees knee flexion. The authors conclude that the central 1/3 patella tendon graft perfor ms comparable to the normal knee when stressed with agility running ex ercise; therefore, agility exercise is an appropriate, sale, short-ter m activity.