Preinjury sport level does not influence knee muscle strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

OBJECTIVES: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), high-level athletes usually perform rehabilitation cares until return to sport. We aimed to compare muscle inhibition recovery after ACLR using a hamstring autograft between high-level and recreational athletes during the first 4 postoperative months. METHODS: From a 5-year retrospective cohort, 69 high-level athletes (Tegner score 9-10) were compared to 401 amateur-level athletes (Tegner 6-8). Knee muscle inhibition was assessed at 4 postoperative months with isokinetic strength measurements to calculate the limb symmetry index (LSI). RESULTS: Muscle inhibition recovery was similar between the two groups, even if high-level athletes benefited significantly more frequently from stays in a rehabilitation center (84% vs 52%, p = 0.01). They had also more physiotherapy sessions (47 ± 19 vs 36 ± 11 sessions, p < 0.0001). Their sessions were more often extended up to 4 months after surgery (50% vs 29%, p = 0.0001). After multiple linear regression, these factors had no influence on strength recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Knee muscle inhibition recovery after ACLR using a hamstring graft was not improved by high-level sport status, despite a higher number of rehabilitation sessions for the first 4 postoperative months. LEVEL EVIDENCE: III.