Isokinetic assessment of extensor and flexor muscles of the knee joint in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction treated by the LARS method – preliminary report

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is aimed at restoration of the function of the knee joint. Aim of the research: Isokinetic assessment of the extensor and flexor muscles of the knee joint in patients treated using the LARS method within the period of 3-5 years after surgery, compared to healthy individuals. Material and methods: The group consisted of 40 patients. Each group included 20 persons: study group and control group. The study group included patients who had undergone LARS surgery. The control group comprised healthy individuals. The patients completed a questionnaire containing the respondents' particulars. The second part of the study covered isokinetic tests performed using the Biodex System 4. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the values of the isokinetic parameters for the operated extremity in the study group, compared to the results obtained in the control group, for the total number of subjects in the study. Statistically significant differences were observed between the flexors peak torque/BW (p = 0.001) and extensors peak torque/BW (p = 0.012) for operated and non-operated lower extremities. Conclusions: Despite muscle strength deficit in the operated limb in patients treated using the LARS method, the strength of flexors and extensors remained on the level of the healthy population examined. The duration of rehabilitation was too short to assess the effect of the type of rehabilitation on muscle strength parameters of the knee joint flexors and extensors. In order to determine the effect of the selected variables on muscle strength parameters, studies should be conducted in a larger population sample.