Effectiveness of strength-oriented rehabilitation interventions as a non-pharmacologic rehabilitation strategy for knee function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a three-level meta-analysis

The study examined the effectiveness of strength-oriented exercises in rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Researchers analyzed data from nine randomized controlled trials with a total of 24 effect sizes. Results demonstrated that strengthening exercises significantly improved knee muscle strength (d = 0.39, p = 0.046). Conversely, no significant effect was found for hop performance tests (d = −0.03, p = 0.906). Postoperative time, population type, and assessment time point had no statistically significant influence on the outcomes. The authors concluded that more comprehensive rehabilitation strategies addressing neuromuscular and functional demands may be necessary to optimize postoperative recovery.