Physiotherapy after reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the existence of differences in the rehabilitation of patients after ACL reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone graft and the four-strand semitendinosus and gracilis tendon grafts, through a literature revision. The researched databases were MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, COCHRANE and PEDro. The inclusion criteria were published studies with methodology draw from randomized clinical trials with or without meta-analysis, individuals with ACL injury, associated or not to meniscal injury, submitted to ligamentoplasty using the bone-patellar tendon-bone graft and the four-strand semitendinosus and gracilis tendon grafts and physiotherapy; clinical trials comparing the differences in the rehabilitation of these patients, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, from 1990 to June, 2011. Five clinical trials were reviewed. No difference was observed between the techniques, however, with a recommendation for a less aggressive rehabilitation and greater attention to the strengthening of the hamstring when they are used as grafts.