INTRODUCTION: ACL reconstruction targets the reestablishment of joint biomechanics and minimization of knee instability. OBJECTIVE: to compare muscular and functional performances, and passive joint laxity between volunteers who, after ligament reconstruction, returned to the same pre-injury activity level and those who did not, METHODS: 25 men who had their ACL ligament arthroscopically reconstructed (patellar ligament) by the same surgeon, at least two years previously were included in the study. The Cincinnati Knee Rating System was used in order to divide the volunteers into: Adapted Group - 15 individuals who returned to the same pre-injury activity level - and Non-adapted Group - 10 individuals who did not return to their pre-injury level. The assessment of functional performance was carried out by means of the hop and the figure-eight ratio tests. Muscular performance was evaluated by an isokinetic dynamometer and passive joint laxity was assessed by the KT-1000 arthrometer. Data analyses were performed by means of t-test and ANOVA. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the groups for tested variables. There were, also, no differences between legs (operated and not operated). CONCLUSION: Passive joint laxity or muscular and functional performances cannot explain the return of the individuals to their same pre-injury functional level.
Rehabilitation; Knee; Biomechanics
