The development of long-term osteoarthritis following anterior cruciate ligament injury: reconstruction vs no reconstruction.

Purpose: The high incidence of osteoarthritis (OA) in relatively young sportspeople following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is concerning. Surgery is considered to reduce the development of OA compared to conservative management. This long-term study aimed to compare the incidence and severity of tibiofemoral OA (TFOA) and patellofemoral OA (PFOA) between reconstructed and non-reconstructed treatment groups and to determine which factors influence the development of OA.

Long-term Return to Sports After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Reconstruction vs No Reconstruction-A Comparison of 2 Case Series.

Background: Reconstruction is considered to provide the best opportunity for return to sports (RTS) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. However, recent studies report that <50% of athletes return to preinjury sporting levels and that RTS rates at 1 year after injury are the same for athletes undergoing reconstruction and nonoperative management. Long-term studies are essential to confirm these findings and guide decisions regarding surgery.

Generalized joint hypermobility in siblings with anterior cruciate ligament injuries and matched unrelated healthy siblings.

Background And Purpose: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures are common knee injuries, and siblings of individuals with an ACL injury may be at higher risk of ACL injury. Generalized hypermobility may be a familial factor predisposing siblings to ACL injury and may also relate to faulty lower limb alignment. There is a need to determine whether the interaction between hypermobility, family history, and faulty alignment makes siblings with hypermobility at higher risk for ACL injury so that appropriate preventative measures can be taken.

Nearly 90% participation in sports activity 12 years after non-surgical management for anterior cruciate ligament injury relates to physical outcome measures.

Purpose: Traditionally reconstructive surgery is recommended for patients planning to return to sport (RTS), especially to pivoting sports after anterior cruciate (ACL) rupture. Recent trends focus on delaying or avoiding surgery as some studies have found similar rates of RTS following both surgical and conservative management. This study aimed to establish long-term RTS levels in ACL-ruptured individuals treated conservatively, and to investigate the relationship between outcome measures and RTS, in particular, pivoting sports.

Three-Year Outcome After a 1-Month Physiotherapy Program of Local and Individualized Global Treatment for Patellofemoral Pain Followed by Self-Management.

Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess whether improvements after a 1-month patellofemoral pain (PFP) program addressing local and global deficits were maintained for 3 years.

Design: This prospective cohort study comprised 4 treatment phases including a randomized trial during week 1.

Setting: The study was conducted in a private physiotherapy practice.

Individualized physiotherapy in the treatment of patellofemoral pain.

Background And Purpose: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is associated with a wide range of local and global physical factors possibly contributing to pain and thus requires detailed assessment and individualized treatment. Yet, no cohort study was found that assessed the value of individualized physiotherapy, probably because this approach lends itself to clinical practice but not to scientific research. Most studies focus on a 'knee' or 'hip' treatment approach irrespective of individual global differences in lower limb alignment, movement patterns and muscle tightness.

The effect of anterior cruciate ligament rupture on the timing and amplitude of gastrocnemius muscle activation: a study of alterations in EMG measures and their relationship to knee joint stability.

Changes in hamstring and quadriceps activity are well known in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency (ACLD) to potentially compensate for knee joint instability. However, few studies have explored gastrocnemius activity or its relationship to knee stability. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the activation characteristics of medial gastrocnemius (MG) in ACLD subjects and relate any changes to knee joint laxity.

The effect of taping, quadriceps strengthening and stretching prescribed separately or combined on patellofemoral pain.

Background And Purpose: Quadriceps strengthening, quadriceps stretching and patellar taping are commonly prescribed together for patellofemoral pain patients. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of each of these techniques in isolation for one week and in combination for one week.

Methods: A prospective double-blind randomized control study was designed involving 41 subjects with 60 knees diagnosed with patellofemoral pain.

Factors involved in the development of osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

Background: The incidence of osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is disturbingly high, with reports of nearly 50% of patients developing mild to moderate osteoarthritis 6 years after surgery. Few studies have assessed the factors involved in the development of osteoarthritis.

Hypothesis: The following 10 factors will be found to be predictive of osteoarthritis: meniscectomy, chondral damage, patellar tendon grafting, age at surgery, time delay between injury and surgery, type and intensity of postsurgery sport, quadriceps strength, hamstring strength, quadriceps-to-hamstring strength ratio, and residual joint laxity.

A 6-year follow-up of the effect of graft site on strength, stability, range of motion, function, and joint degeneration after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: patellar tendon versus semitendinosus and Gracilis tendon graft.

Background: The choice of graft material for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction remains controversial. Despite the need for well-controlled, long-term outcome studies comparing patellar tendon with hamstring grafting, few studies have followed results for more than 5 years.

Hypothesis: Graft source will not affect outcome 6 years after reconstruction.