Comparison of Video Based Phone App vs. Supervised Preoperative Exercise for ACL Reconstruction

NCT07322497 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025/23/1304
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if using a phone app for exercises is as effective as working with a physical therapist before anterior cruciate ligament knee surgery. It will also check if exercising before surgery helps patients recover better compared to those who do not follow a specific exercise plan. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does the phone app help patients improve their knee strength and movement as well as seeing a physical therapist?
• Do patients who exercise before surgery have a better recovery after surgery than those who do not? Researchers will compare the phone app group to a physical therapist group and a group with no specific exercise plan to see which method works best. Participants will:
• Follow an exercise plan for 4 weeks before their surgery (either using the app, with a therapist, or no specific plan).
• Visit the clinic for check-ups before starting the exercises, right before the surgery, and 6 months after the surgery.
• Complete simple tests and surveys to measure their knee health.

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Rupture

Keywords

Preoperative Rehabilitation; ACL Reconstruciton; Prehabilitation; Mobile Application; Telerehabiltiation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Isometric Quadriceps Muscle Strength

  Muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer (Newton). Measurements will be taken at 30 and 70 degrees of knee flexion. The highest value of 3 trials will be recorded.

  Baseline, Preoperative (Week 4), and Postoperative (Month 6)

• Isometric Hamstring Muscle Strength

  Muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer (Newton) at 35 and 60 degrees of flexion

  Baseline, Preoperative (Week 4), and Postoperative (Month 6).

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• IKDC 2000 Subjective Knee Evaluation Form

  Baseline, Preoperative (Week 4), and Postoperative (Month 6).

• Knee Range of Motion (ROM)

  Baseline, Preoperative (Week 4), and Postoperative (Month 6).

• Single Leg Hop Test (Limb Symmetry Index)

  Baseline, Preoperative (Week 4), and Postoperative (Month 6).

• Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT)

  Baseline, Preoperative (Week 4), and Postoperative (Month 6).

• Active Joint Position Sense

  Baseline, Preoperative (Week 4), and Postoperative (Month 6).

Study Arms (3)

Video Based App Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive a progressive, unsupervised exercise program via a mobile application for 4 weeks prior to surgery. The app provides video guidance, reminders, and compliance tracking.

Behavioral: Mobile App Exercise Program

Supervised Rehabilitation Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will undergo a supervised exercise program with a physiotherapist (3 days/week) for 4 weeks prior to surgery. The protocol is identical to the app group.

Behavioral: Supervised Physiotherapy

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will receive standard care and will not receive a specific preoperative exercise prescription.

Interventions

Mobile App Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

A 4-week progressive home exercise program delivered via a smartphone app. It focuses on range of motion, edema control, strengthening, and balance exercises.

Video Based App Group

Supervised Physiotherapy BEHAVIORAL

A 4-week in-clinic exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist, including the same exercises as the app group

Supervised Rehabilitation Group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Patients with a diagnosed unilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture
• Patients scheduled for ACL reconstruction surgery.
• Age between 18 and 45 years.
• Patients willing to participate and sign the informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with multiple ligament injuries (e.g., combined ACL and PCL/MCL injury).
• Patients with bilateral ACL injuries.
• Presence of accompanying fractures around the knee joint.
• Presence of active infection.
• Patients who refuse surgery or withdraw consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital

Istanbul, Kartal, 34865, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Rupture; Wounds and Injuries

Central Study Contacts

Ömer Hekim, PT, MSc

CONTACT

+905547538348; omerfarukhekim@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physiotherapist, PhD Candidate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2025
• First Posted: January 7, 2026
• Study Start: December 29, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 29, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 29, 2027
• Last Updated: January 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)