Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a home-based rehabilitation program following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is equally effective to a clinic-based program. Thirty-eight patients (23 male, 15 female, 24.4 years) completed the study. Seventeen patients received home-based rehabilitation, and 21 patients received clinic-based rehabilitation. Knee range of motion, thigh atrophy, Lachman test, pivot shift test, KT-2000, isokinetic extension and flexion strength, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) objective and subjective score, and Lysholm score were evaluated at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference for all outcomes except for isokinetic extension and flexion strength at 6 months between both groups. Isokinetic extension and flexion strength at 6 months postoperatively was significantly greater in the home-based group compared with the clinic-based group. Results indicated that patients undergoing ACL reconstruction can successfully reach acceptable outcomes with a home-based rehabilitation program.
