Progressive resistance training improves single-leg vertical jump after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Non-randomized controlled trial study

OBJECTIVES: The study was investigating the effect of a progressive resistance training program on the recovery of patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in terms of kinematics, kinetics and muscle strength. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Hospital laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 42 patients were finally included: 22 patients in the progressive resistance training group and 20 in the control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Questionnaire, single-leg vertical jump, and muscle strength were collected preoperatively and at 16, 28 weeks, and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: At 28 weeks, the height of the single-leg vertical jump for the injured knee was 203 and 157 mm (p = 0.045) and the peak knee flexion angle after landing for the injured knee was 31°and 23° (p = 0.027) in the progressive resistance training and control groups, respectively. The progressive resistance training group showed a significant increase in the knee extensor symmetry index after the 24-week exercise training compared from 58% preoperatively to 79% (p = 0.001) after training completion, which lasted up to 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Progressive resistance training significantly improved knee extensor symmetry, single-leg vertical jump height, and peak knee flexion angle after landing, outperforming the control group across all measures.