ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury directly impacts the individual's lower limb function. It is very important for althelets whether rehabilitation training after ACL reconstruction is reasonable, effective and can restore the normal function of the knee joint.OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of rehabilitation training on graft healing and knee joint function recovery after ACL reconstruction. METHODS: An elite rugby player was enrolled and subjected to phased rehabilitation training after ACL reconstruction. MRI examination was done before and after rehabilitation training. Then, the following indicators were tested, including joint flexion of knee, leg circumference degrees, isokinetic muscle strength of the lower limb, feedback test, the test of YBT, the Balance Error Scoring System, feedforward test, static balance test on one foot, dynamic balance test on the feet, Lysholm knee score, anaerobic work of the upper extremity, torso strength, to analyze the graft healing, body shape, the knee joint function and physical quality improvement after ACL reconstruction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 10 months of phased rehabilitation training, the graft healed well; the knee flexion degree was back to normal; knee joint swelling basically eliminated; the muscle strength of the extensor flexor of the knee joint was back to over 95% of the normal level; the function of the injured knee joint was good and returned to a higher level; the Lysholm knee score was 85 points; the anaerobic work of the upper limbs and trunk strength reached to 120% of the normal level; and the quality of the body was greatly improved. To conclude, a great improvement in graft healing, knee joint function, recovery of muscle strength and physical qualities has been achieved in athletes who receive rehabilitation training after ACL reconstruction.