Early Neuromuscular Training after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract
Background: Rupture of anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most common knee injuries, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) remains the standard approach for athletes who aim to return to high level sporting activities, neuromuscular training is a main part of the rehabilitation program after ACLR.
Aim of the Study: This study was conducted to detect the effect of early neuromuscular training on knee propioception after ACLR.
Methods: Thirty patients of both gender after ACLR with age ranged from 20-30 years were included in the study. All patients were referred by orthopedic surgeon who was respon-sible for diagnosis and surgery based on clinical and radio-logical examination. They were randomly assigned into 2 Groups A included 15 patients who received standard ACL rehabilitation protocol and Group B included 15 patients who received standard ACL rehabilitation protocol in addition to neuromuscular training for three sessions per week for 6 weeks. The study was conducted at a private clinic in Alex-andria in the duration from November 2016 to August 2017.
Methods of Evaluation: The digital inclinometer used to assess knee proprioception (joint position sense) after ACLR.
Results: Showed that both standard ACL rehabilitation protocol (Group A) and standard ACL rehabilitation protocol adding early neuromuscular training (Group B) were effective in improvement of the knee proprioception with no statistical difference between the two groups.
Conclusion: There was no significant difference in knee proprioception between standard rehabilitation protocol with or without adding early neuromuscular training, however there was clinical difference and high percent of improvement in adding adding early neuromuscular training to standard rehabilitation protocol.