| Description |
In 1992 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction rehabilitation was accelerated due to the outcomes of a study performed by D. K. Shelboume and P. Nitz. Patients following ACL reconstruction became noncompliant because they began progressing weight bearing, range of motion, and daily functional activities before the protocol indicated. Shelbourne's and Nitz's study showed no adverse problems with this noncompliant group of patients. This study set a trend in most clinics to accelerate ACL rehabilitation. With this accelerated protocol, the need to maximize the benefits of time spent in physical therapy sessions to obtain increased outcomes developed. Currently the rehabilitation intensity is prescribed in a gradual linear fashion. A different type of application of intensity increase is periodized training. Although not tested in a rehabilitation setting, periodized training is strength training where the increase of physical demands are applied in sudden jumps at different intervals of time. This method of training has shown greater increases in physical development of athletes than a linear increase in intensity. Periodized training plans work/rest cycles to obtain maximal outcomes. This pilot study has integrated periodized training into a rehabilitation exercise program and compared it against the normal linear increased programs. Beginning at five weeks post surgery, periodized and linear intensity rehabilitation was compared for 20 weeks, to see if increased muscle strength was gained to assist Shelbourne's and Nitz's accelerated rehabilitation protocol. No published study has been performed combining a periodized training program and ACL reconstruction rehabilitation. Comparing the control group and the periodized group in this study, no significant differences were found. The periodized group is not necessarily any better than the control group training program, and has proven to be no worse. |
