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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2/2019

01-02-2019 | Knee

Cross-education does not improve early and late-phase rehabilitation outcomes after ACL reconstruction: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Authors: Tjerk Zult, Alli Gokeler, Jos J. A. M. van Raay, Reinoud W. Brouwer, Inge Zijdewind, Jonathan P. Farthing, Tibor Hortobágyi

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 2/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

Limited evidence suggests that cross-education affords clinical benefits in the initial 8 weeks after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, but it is unknown if such cross-education effects are reproducible and still present in later phases of rehabilitation. We examined whether cross-education, as an adjuvant to standard therapy, would accelerate the rehabilitation up to 26 weeks after ACL reconstruction by attenuating quadriceps weakness.

Methods

ACL-reconstructed patients were randomized into experimental (n = 22) and control groups (n = 21). Both groups received standard care after ACL reconstruction. In addition, the experimental group strength trained the quadriceps of the non-operated leg during weeks 1–12 after surgery (i.e., cross-education). Self-reported knee function was assessed with the Hughston Clinic Knee score as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were maximal quadriceps and hamstring strength and single leg hop distance. All outcomes were measured 29 ± 23 days prior to surgery, as a reference, and at 5-week, 12-week, and 26-week post-surgery.

Results

Both groups scored 12% worse on self-reported knee function 5-week post-surgery (95% CI 7–17) and showed 15% improvement 26-week post-surgery (95% CI − 20 to − 10). No cross-education effect was found. Interestingly, males scored 8–10% worse than females at each time point post-surgery. None of 33 secondary outcomes showed a cross-education effect. At 26-week post-surgery, both legs improved maximal quadriceps (5–14%) and hamstring strength (7–18%), and the non-injured leg improved 2% in hop distance. The ACL recovery was not affected by limb dominance and age.

Conclusion

26 weeks of standard care improved self-reported knee function and maximal leg strength relative to pre-surgery and adding cross-education did not further accelerate ACL recovery.

Level of evidence

I.

Clinical Trial Registry name and registration

This randomized controlled clinical trial is registered at the Dutch trial register (http://​www.​trialregister.​nl) under NTR4395.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Cross-education does not improve early and late-phase rehabilitation outcomes after ACL reconstruction: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors
Tjerk Zult
Alli Gokeler
Jos J. A. M. van Raay
Reinoud W. Brouwer
Inge Zijdewind
Jonathan P. Farthing
Tibor Hortobágyi
Publication date
01-02-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-018-5116-y

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