Velocity specificity in early training of the knee extensors after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Resistance-training velocity specificity is known to occur in isotonic trai ning of uninjured subjects and in isokinetic training of injured patients. Whether velocity specificity occurs with isotonic training in injured patie nts has not been tested, despite the common use of this exercise mode in pa tients. Thirty-two patients recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reco nstruction (ACLR) surgery were tested at approximately 2 and 6 weeks after surgery. The isokinetic injured/uninjured strength patios of the knee exten sors were compared for the test velocities of 60 degrees . s(-1) and 210 de grees . s(-1), as assessed before and after a 4-week training period. Isoto nic training of the knee extensors at 60 degrees . s(-1) was applied in for mal sessions three times per week. The isokinetic injured/uninjured strengt h ratios were compared for the two test velocities, and there was no indica tion that training velocity specificity occurred in these patients. Possibl e reasons for this finding, which contrasts with previous work, are discuss ed.