Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1988

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education

Major Professor

Craig A. Wrisberg

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction patients who performed myofeedback-faci1itated quadricep-strengthening exercises would demonstrate a more rapid recovery of functional measures associated with twelve-week post-operative quadricep efficiency (isometric strength and active full extension of the knee) than ACL patients who performed the same quadricep exercise protocol without myofeedback. Functional measures included: (Da Cybex test of quadricep isometric strength during the twelfth post-operative week and (2) the number of days post-operatively that a patient achieved active full extension of the knee, measured at 0°.

Twenty-two male and female ACL patients were randomy assigned to a treatment (myofeedback) or a control (non-feedback) group during the first post-operative therapy session (one-week following surgery). Following twelve weeks of rehabilitation exercise protocol, the isometric quadricep strength in the operative limb was compared to that in the normal limb and a percentage of normal peak torque was calculated at three angles (90°, 60°, and 45°). A two-way ANOVA (groups x angles) revealed significantly greater recovery of normal quadricep strength among paitents in the myofeedback group at all angles. Recovery of active knee extension was determined by the number of days that elapsed between the surgery date and achievement of 0 extension. Mean recovery time was calculated for each group and a t-test for independent samples was performed. Patients in the myofeedback group achieved active full extension in a significantly shorter amount of time than patients who did not exercise with feedback. It was concluded that the addition of myofeedback to quadricep-strengthening exercises facilitates the rate of recovery of quadricep efficiency vollowing ACL reconstruction surgery.

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