Longitudinal assessment of knee joint proprioception using weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing tests throughout rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Smaller JPS errors at early rehabilitation while weight-bearing may have been due to heightened quadriceps activation and increased γ motor neuron sensitivity, compensating for deficient ACL mechanoreceptors. In contrast, non-weight-bearing testing did not reveal changes over time. Clinicians are advised to consider these distinctions when assessing proprioception at different rehabilitation stages.