Lose the knee brace. That’s the latest word from orthopedic specialists who have determined wearing a knee brace following ACL surgery has no effect on a person's recovery.
But physical therapy — emphasizing strength, range-of- motion, and functionality exercises — provides significant benefits to ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) patients, and other new therapies show promise as well, according to a new review of studies published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
The findings, by a team of orthopedic surgeons, are based on an analysis of 29 studies of treatment following reconstructive ACL surgery.
SPECIAL: These 4 Things Happen Right Before a Heart Attack — Read More.“The most important thing for ACL surgery patients is to start physical therapy early and rigorously," said Dr. Rick W. Wright, with the sports medicine department at the Washington University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in St, Louis. "It can be difficult at first, but it's worth it in terms of returning to sports and other activities."
The ACL runs through the middle of the knee joint and helps to stabilize it. It is most commonly strained or torn when a person or athlete suddenly changes direction, stops abruptly, or lands incorrectly after a jump. Injuries often require reconstructive surgery and rehabilitative therapy that centers on improving strength, motion, function, and balance.
Among the new study’s findings:
• Physical therapy should begin early, ideally within a few days after surgery.
• Therapies focusing on balance and boosting patients’ awareness of body movements may have benefits.
• Accelerated rehabilitation is not harmful, but should be studied further.
• No vitamins or other supplements have been proven to have any effect on ACL healing.
SPECIAL: These 4 Things Happen Right Before a Heart Attack — Read More.