2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (26): 4107-4112

Alteration in knee and ligament functions in patients with knee ligament injury under aerobic training intervention mode

Zhang Duo1, Shan Jixin2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: After reconstruction of knee ligament injuries, some patients develop obvious thigh muscle atrophy. Moreover, postoperative immobilization and fixation measures will also lead to intra-articular adhesion and soft tissue contracture around the joint. Therefore, in the rehabilitation process after ligament injury, muscle strength training plays an important role in promoting its rapid recovery.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of aerobic training mode of skeletal muscle recovery on knee joint and ligament functions of patients with knee ligament injury.
METHODS: A total of 94 patients with knee ligament injury who received arthroscopic repair were selected and randomized into experimental group and conventional group, with 47 patients in each group. Patients in the conventional group received conventional rehabilitation intervention mode, and patients in the experimental group received integrated exercise mode of aerobic training intervention on the basis of the conventional group. Visual analog scale score, ligament function indexes (flexor/extensor peak moment ratio, limb symmetry measurements), knee function Lysholm score, and quality of life (SF-36) score were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between patients’ ligament function score, knee function score and their quality of life.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Visual analog scale scores decreased significantly in the experimental group compared with the conventional group after 3 months of treatment (P < 0.001). After 3 months of treatment, flexor/extensor peak moment ratio and limb symmetry measures improved significantly in the two groups, and all the indexes in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the conventional group (all P < 0.001). After 3 months of treatment, the Lysholm score increased significantly in the two groups, and the Lysholm score was significantly higher in the experimental group than the conventional group (both P < 0.001). After 3 months of treatment, the total score of SF-36 scale increased significantly in the experimental group compared with the conventional group (P < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that quality of life was significantly positively correlated with flexor/extensor peak moment ratio, limb symmetry, and Lysholm score (P < 0.05). To conclude, aerobic training intervention mode can effectively improve the knee join and ligament functions of patients with knee ligament injury, help patients recover motor function as soon as possible, and improve the quality of life of patients.

Key words: aerobic training, knee ligament injury, ligament function, motor function, quality of life