EARLY REHABILITATION OF ACUTE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY - A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL

The efficacy of a 6-week rehabilitation program was evaluated in 100 c onsecutive patients, age 15-42 years, with acute anterior cruciate lig ament (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 assigne d 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 restri ction. The only significant difference between the groups was the impr ovement of muscle function in men in the supervised training group. Co nclusion: Six weeks' rehabilitation is too short a time period from or iginal injury to obtain normal mobility and restored knee function.