Study of Eccentric Training Effects on Recovery After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating how eccentric training affects the rehabilitation of patients undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ACL-R. This randomized controlled trial includes thirty-four participants who will be assigned to either a Conventional Training Group CTG or an Eccentric Training Group ETG. Both groups will follow the same post-surgical rehabilitation program starting in the first week after ACL-R and continuing until they meet criteria to return to sports. The rehabilitation is divided into four phases immediate post-operative, preparatory, general acquisition, and specific acquisition phases. Participants in the CTG will perform exercises with equal focus on concentric and eccentric muscle phases, maintaining a constant load with each phase lasting 2 seconds. In contrast, the ETG will prioritize the eccentric phase, performing the concentric phase bilaterally in about 1 second followed by a unilateral eccentric phase lasting about 3 seconds. Assessments will occur at three time points immediately after surgery, at 12 weeks post-surgery before training begins, and at 25 weeks post-surgery after training ends. Throughout the study, participants will undergo evaluations of knee extensor maximum isometric strength, which is the primary outcome. Secondary measures include knee flexor strength, leg press dynamic strength, muscle atrophy, self-reported functional impairments, jump test performance, and psychological readiness to return to sport. These assessments take place at 12 and 25 weeks post-surgery to monitor progress and rehabilitation effectiveness.

Effects of Eccentric Training in the Rehabilitation of Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: a Randomized Controlled Trial