Influence of Age on Muscle Strength and Knee Function following Arthroscopic Meniscectomy

In an effort to examine thigh muscle strength following partial arthroscopic meniscectomy of the knee, 24 surgical patients were studied. They were divided into group 1 (age <20 years), group 2 (age 24-45 years), and group 3 (age >50 years). Subjects were studied immediately after surgery, weekly during isokinetic rehabilitation, and weekly after release from rehabilitation for 3 weeks. Termination of isokinetic rehabilitation occurred when quadriceps muscle strength achieved 85% recovery of the nonsurgical leg. Approximately 50% quadriceps muscle strength loss was observed at the time of the initial isokinetic test. No significant difference existed among the three groups in terms of days from the time of surgery to the start of the first test, or for the number of weeks to release from rehabilitation. Results indicate that age alone does not appear to be a limiting factor in regaining muscle strength following arthroscopic meniscectomy.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1988;10(3):87-92.