Are the knee extensor and flexor muscles isokinetic parameters affected by the duration of postoperative physiotherapy supervision in patients eight months after ACL reconstruction with the use of semitendinosus and gracilis tendons autograft?

The observational study evaluated isokinetic parameters in patients at eight months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) utilizing semitendinosus and gracilis tendons autograft, with two different modes of physiotherapy, and investigated whether analysed parameters were affected by the postoperative physiotherapy supervision duration. Methods: Strict exclusion criteria were employed on a group of 259 ACL-reconstructed patients to identify two groups of males preoperatively well trained and frequently participating in sports, with different durations of postoperative physiotherapy supervision: Group I (n = 18; x = 27.67 weeks) and Group II (n = 20; x = 10.75 weeks). The patients underwent knee extensor and flexor muscles torques measurements with the 180°/s and 60°/s. The torque, position and time parameters were analysed. Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) was calculated. The parametric tests for dependent samples, parametric tests for independent samples, and linear Pearson’s correlation coefficient calculations were performed. Results: There were significant between-limb differences in the Group II in the knee extensor and flexor muscles torque parameters, with LSI ranging from x = 75.72 to x = 78.75 and from x = 78.69 to x = 87.82, respectively. The knee extensor muscles torque parameters and LSI values were positively correlated with the physiotherapy supervision duration. The inter-limb differences in the Group I and II in knee flexor muscles PT angle amounted to x = 10.94° (180°/s), x = 9.39° (60°/s), and x = 12.00° (180°/s), x = 9.75° (60°/s), respectively. Conclusions: The longer postoperative physiotherapy supervision was more effective for improving knee muscles torque parameters. The knee flexor muscles PT angle was shifted towards extension in the ACL-reconstructed limb, regardless of the time of postoperative physiotherapy supervision duration.