Biomechanical analysis of postural strategies over the first two months following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

To assess the postural strategies developed over the first 2 months following surgery by ACL patients during rehabilitation and highlight the sensory-motor impairment recovery, 21 patients were measured at three timeframes. Three two-legged standing conditions were assessed: with the eyes open, with the eyes closed either wearing or not wearing a knee orthosis. The results indicate that the weight-bearing asymmetry, initially observed (i.e., 56-44% of body-weight), disappeared progressively during rehabilitation (51-49%). The comparison of the plantar center-of-pressure displacements under both sound and operated legs demonstrated noticeable differences that also tended to decrease but without reaching a matched behavior during the last measures. These effects were seen in both eyes open and eyes closed conditions with the greatest effects in the latter condition. Wearing a knee orthosis inferred no particular changes in the postural control behaviors. These data could be used as benchmarks for highlighting the effects on undisturbed postural control of various surgery techniques and/or rehabilitation protocols.