THE EFFECT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY ON STANDING BALANCE IN CHRONIC ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INSUFFICIENCY

Body sway movements in the frontal plane in a singlelimbed stance test were used to assess postural control in 26 patients with chronic ante rior cruciate ligament insufficiency. The injured and the noninjured l egs were tested before the patients were committed to physiotherapy fo r 3 to 6 months. Follow-up tests were made after 3, 12, and 36 months. Significant disturbance of the balance of both legs was found before training, compared with a reference group of normal subjects. Values o f the noninjured leg were normalized after 3 months of training, but t he injured leg still showed an increased body sway. Normal balance par ameters on the injured side were found at examination after 12 months. Follow-up examination after 36 months proved persistent normalization of the single-limbed balance on both sides.