Knee flexor strength recovery following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the doubled semitendinosus and gracilis tendons was assessed for up to 12 months post-surgery. Twelve patients were followed up, four at 3 months, five at 6 months and three at 12 months post-surgery. Knee flexor moment was recorded using the Biodex System-3 isokinetic dynamometer. Three sets of five repetitions of reciprocal eccentric/ concentric knee flexion contractions were carried out with each set at 1.05, 2.09 or 3.14 rad × s-1. T-tests were used to test for significant differences between and within groups. The uninjured leg produced greater average peak moments than the injured leg; significant differences (p < 0.05) were seen between the legs at 1.05 rad × s-1 for the 3-month group concentrically, and all three groups eccentrically. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between groups for the percentage deficit between legs. On average, a 23 % deficit in average peak moment was still evident at 12 months both eccentrically and concentrically at 1.05 rad × s-1. Taken as a whole this evidence suggests that there is a deficit in knee flexor strength up to at least 12 months post-surgery following doubled semitendinosus and gracilis tendon graft reconstruction even after a full rehabilitation protocol.
Isokinetics, rehabilitation, eccentric-concentric knee flexor torque.
