Objectives: to investigate the effects of adding preoperative exercises to postoperative progressive exercises on knee function, single hop distance, and global function post ACLR.
Methods: Fifty male subjects undergone unilateral primary ACLR. They were divided randomly into two groups (A) and (B). Six weeks of exercises program given to Group (A) only preoperatively, while twenty four weeks of postoperative progressive exercises program given to all subjects in two groups. Knee function was assessed by knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), single leg hop distance was measured by single leg hop test, and global function was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) mm. All measured variables were taken 6 weeks before operation (pre-test), 12 weeks after operation (intermediate test), and 24 weeks after treatment program (post-test).
Results: (Intermediate test) after 12 weeks group (A) showed significant improvement in KOOS and global function, while group (B) that treated only by postoperative program showed no significant differences in all variables. (Post-test) After 24 weeks postoperative both groups showed significant improvement in all variables, with superiority to group (A).
Conclusions: Adding pre-operative exercises can give better results than only postoperative progressive rehabilitation in subjects with ACLR.