RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are very common among the athletic population. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) performed because of these injuries is one of the procedures performed by orthopedic surgeons using different grafting methods. This study aims to compare the data related to post-operative 6-month isokinetic strength values, strength-related asymmetry rates, time parameters, and joint angle in athletes who underwent ACLR with the Modified All-inside (4ST) technique, on both the healthy knee (HK) and the ACLR-applied sides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 athletes from various sports on whom the 4ST ACLR technique had been applied by the same surgeon were evaluated retrospectively. Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores of the patients were obtained pre-operative and at 6 months post-operative. Isokinetic knee extension (Ex) and flexion (Flx) strengths on the HK and ACLR sides of the patients were evaluated with a series of four different angular velocities (60, 180, 240, and 300°/s). In addition to peak torque (PT) and hamstring/quadriceps ratio (H/Q) parameters, the findings were also evaluated with additional parameters such as joint angle at peak torque (JAPT), time to peak torque (TPT), reciprocal delay (RD), and endurance ratio (ER). RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the mean Lysholm, Tegner, and IKDC scores after surgery compared with pre-operative levels (p < 0.05). As for PT values, there were significant differences in favor of the HK in the 60, 180, and 300°/s Ex phases (p < 0.05). In terms of the H/Q and (hamstring/hamstring)/(quadriceps/quadriceps) (HH/QQ) ratios, there were significant differences at 300°/s (p < 0.05). In terms of JAPT, there were significant differences in the 300°/s Ex and 180°/s Flx phases (p < 0.05). In terms of TPT, there were significant differences in the 300°/s Ex phase (p < 0.05). In terms of RD and ER, no significant difference was observed between the HK and ACLR sides at any angular velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Although differences were observed in PT values, particularly in the Ex phase, this did not cause a significant change in H/Q ratios. Similar results were observed for additional parameters such as JAPT, TPT, RD, and ER. The results show that this ACLR technique can be used in athletes in view of strength gain and a return to sports.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the addition of aerobic training to spinal mobility exercises on disease-specific outcomes and functional exercise capacity, aerobic capacity and respiratory muscle strength of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. METHODS: The study included 31 volunteers (mean age: 44.90 ± 11.52 years) diagnosed with AS. The demographic characteristics and disease-related data of all subjects were recorded, then, the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) and Bath AS Disease Function Index (BASFI), the 6-minute walk test, the Bruce Treadmill Test and spirometry were used, respectively. The intervention group attended a 12-week program of aerobic exercise sessions, plus supervised spinal mobility exercises, 3 days a week. The control group performed the supervised spinal mobility exercises only, 3 times a week, for 12 weeks. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in BASDAI (p = .002), BASMI (p = .021), 6 DYT (p = .036), VO2 max (p = .000), MIP (p = .005) and MEP (p = .022) results in the intervention group after 12 weeks of training. In the comparisons of the pre-treatment and post-treatment differences, BASDAI (p = .032) decreased and VO2 (p = .001) max increased, showing significant improvements in the intervention group and these values were maintained. CONCLUSION: It is striking that improvements in all parameters except BASFI were achieved in the aerobic training group. These results demonstrate that an aerobic exercise program should be included in an individual exercise prescription for the management of AS.
