The Effect of Progressive Resistance Exercise on Knee Muscle Strength and Function in Participants with Persistent Hamstring Deficit Following ACL Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

To investigate the effect of progressive resistance exercise compared with low-intensity home-based exercises on knee-muscle strength and joint function in people with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and persistent hamstring strength deficits at 12-24 months after surgery. Randomized controlled superiority trial with parallel groups, balanced randomization (1:1), and blinded outcome assessment. People with ACL reconstruction (hamstring autograft) and persistent hamstring muscle strength asymmetry were recruited 1 to 2 years postsurgery and randomized to either 12 weeks of supervised progressive strength training (SNG), or 12 weeks of home-based, low-intensity exercises (CON). The primary outcome was between-group difference in change in maximal isometric knee flexor muscle strength at 12-week follow-up. Fifty-one participants (45% women, 27 ± 6 years) were randomized to SNG (n = 25) or CON (n = 26), with 88% follow-up rate at 12 weeks. People in the SNG group improved their knee flexor muscle strength (0.18 N·m/kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.07, 0.29; = .002) more than the CON group, from baseline to 12 weeks. The SNG group also had superior Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores for Pain (4.6, 95% CI: 0.4, 8.7; = .031) and daily living function (4.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 8.2; = .010) compared to the CON group. In people with persistent hamstring muscle strength deficits after ACL reconstruction, 12 weeks of supervised progressive strength training was superior to low-intensity home-based exercises for improving maximal knee flexor muscle strength and some patient-reported outcomes. .