A randomized study of two physiotherapeutic approaches after knee ligament reconstruction

Aringsa Revenaumls; Annchristin Johansson; Jerzy Leppert

This study compared the results of a hospital-based programme, Knee-class Therapy (KT), with an individual programme with limited physiotherapy appointments, Guided Therapy (GT), 6 and 12 months after knee surgery, in terms of function, activity level, muscle strength, knee-joint stability and knee-joint mobility. After ACLR, 24 patients were randomized to the KT group and 27 to the GT group. Fourteen patients in the KT group and 24 in the GT group completed the physiotherapy appointments as prescribed. At 6 months after surgery, the median Lysholm knee score was significantly higher in the KT group. At the 12-month follow-up, the GT group's improvement in the Lysholm knee score was significantly greater than the KT group's. Non-compliance was high in the KT group.

This study indicates that an individual exercise programme with limited physiotherapy appointments might be as effective as physiotherapeutic knee classes.

Advances in Physiotherapy, 2009, 11(1), 30 – 41

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