OBJECTIVE: To evaluate knee proprioception in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and to assess the effectiveness of an exercise program consisting mainly of proprioception exercises addressing pain, proprioception, and functional status following ACL reconstruction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male patients, diagnosed with unilateral ACL injury and scheduled for reconstruction, participated in the study along with 16 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Arthroscopic reconstruction of the ACL using autologous hamstring tendon was performed in every case by the same surgeon. After the operation, a six-month rehabilitation program was initiated. Knee proprioception, pain, and functional status were evaluated before and six months after the reconstruction. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate proprioception and a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale were used to evaluate pain and functional status respectively.
RESULTS: Preoperative proprioception loss was detected on the patients' injured side when compared to the uninjured side and to healthy volunteers (p = 0.00). A significant improvement was found in pain severity, proprioception, and functional capacity after the postoperative six-month rehabilitation program (p = 0.00).
CONCLUSION: Preoperative proprioception loss was detected in ACL-injured patients. The rehabilitation program predominantly consisting of proprioception exercises provided considerable improvement on knee proprioception and functional status.
