The Effects of Intermittent Vibrational Stimulation on Lower Limb Kinematics Two Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To investigate the immediate effects of intermittent vibrational stimulation on gait and stair ambulation among patients two months post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Design Randomized, parallel, 2-group-randomized controlled trial. Setting Hospital setting. Participants There were 27 male and female participants aged 18-45, two months post-ACLR, and a convenience sample of 24 healthy controls. Interventions The participants were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received a device designed to apply intermittent vibrational stimulation above and below the knee; the other received a sham device. Main Outcome Measure(s) The main outcomes were the knee sagittal kinematics during gait at three speeds and stair ascent and descent. The assessment was performed with and without one of the study devices. Results Compared to the sham device, intermittent vibrational stimulation significantly increased the minimum knee flexion angles while walking at normal, slow, and fast paces and stair ascent. Concblusion Intermittent vibrational stimulation affects the lower limb kinematics during rehabilitation for individuals post-ACLR. However, further research is necessary to confirm long-term benefits and establish optimal application parameters.