Knee Extension Deficit Following an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (Extension Loss)

NCT06863610 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024/140
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Knee extension loss following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is believed to play an important role in quadriceps strength recovery. One of the main goals of the rehabilitation following ACL reconstruction is to restore knee extensor muscle strength. Deficits of more than a five-degree extension range of motion (ROM) could lead to delayed knee functionality and anterior knee pain. However, the effect of knee extension deficits in the early postoperative phase of the ACL reconstruction on knee extensor muscle strength recovery and knee functionality is not yet known. This study aimed to investigate the difference between knee extensor muscle strength recovery and knee functionality in patients with ACL repair who had a knee extension ROM deficit (\>5°) in the early postoperative period and those who did not.

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Keywords

ACL; reconstruction; knee; extension deficit

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Quadriceps Muscle Strength Recovery

  Isometric, concentric and eccentric quadriceps muscle strength will be measured using an isokinetic dynamometer (IsoMed®2000 D\&R GmbH, Germany).

  Qudriceps muscle strength will be measured at 4th weeks (isometric), 12 th weeks (isometric and concentric), 6th months (isometric, concentric, and eccentric) following a surgery.

• Hamstring Muscle Strength Recovery

  Isometric, concentric and eccentric hamstring muscle strength will be measured using an isokinetic dynamometer (IsoMed®2000 D\&R GmbH, Germany).

  Hamstring muscle strength will be measured at 4th weeks (isometric), 12 th weeks (isometric and concentric), 6th months (isometric, concentric, and eccentric) following a surgery.

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• The Y Balance Test. Functional Testing 1

  Assessments will be conducted at 12th weeks and 6th months following a surgery

• The Vertical Jump Test. Functional Testing 2

  Assessments will be conducted at 12th weeks and 6th months following a surgery

• The Single Leg Hop Test. Functional Testing 3

  Assessments will be conducted at 12th weeks and 6th months following a surgery

• The Lysholm score. Patient-reported outcomes measures 1

  Self-reported recovery will be recorded at 12th weeks and 6th months following a surgery

• The International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee form (IKDC). Patient-reported outcomes measures 2

  Self-reported recovery will be recorded at 12th weeks and 6th months following a surgery

Study Arms (2)

Extension Deficit (>5 degrees)

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients who had a knee extension ROM deficit of more than 5 degrees in the fourth week will be subject to the rehabilitation program under the supervision of the same physiotherapist 3 days a week for a period of 12 weeks. The rehabilitation program will include cold therapy, electrotherapy, and exercises focusing on improving knee functioning and restoring muscle strength. From 12 weeks to 6 months, a home exercise program will be advised to all patients equally.

Other: Extension Deficit (>5 degrees)

Extension Deficit (<5 degrees)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients who had a knee extension ROM deficit of less than 5 degrees in the fourth week will be subject to the rehabilitation program under the supervision of the same physiotherapist 3 days a week for a period of 12 weeks. The rehabilitation program will include cold therapy, electrotherapy, and exercises focusing on improving knee functioning and restoring muscle strength. From 12 weeks to 6 months, a home exercise program will be advised to all patients equally.

Other: Extension Deficit (<5 degrees)

Interventions

Extension Deficit (<5 degrees) OTHER

Patients who had a knee extension ROM deficit of less than 5 degrees will included

Extension Deficit (<5 degrees)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients who underwent ACL repair using hamstring tendon autograft
• volunteered to participate in the study between the ages of 18-45
• a non-contact injury mechanism
• a Tegner Activity Score \>5 before the injury
• regularly attended the rehabilitation program after surgery (not missing more than three sessions)

You may not qualify if:

• Patients who underwent ACL repair with patellar tendon autograft or allograft, revision surgery
• underwent meniscus and or cartilage repair in addition to ACL repair
• a history of previous knee, ankle, or groin injuries
• concomitant systemic and/or neurological pathologies
• a history of injury to the contralateral lower extremity
• do not want to participate in the evaluations that should be done before the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Ankara, 06100, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Knee Injuries; Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Study Officials

• Leyla Eraslan, Ph. D.

  Hacettepe University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Leyla Eraslan, Ph. D.

CONTACT

+905348488373; leylaseraslan@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2025
• First Posted: March 7, 2025
• Study Start: March 15, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 15, 2026
• Last Updated: September 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Locations

TU (1)