Effects of backward walking on knee proprioception after ACL reconstruction

Objective: The present study aimed to assess proprioception of the knee to evaluate the effectiveness of backward walking for rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.Methods: Patients (n = 52) who underwent ACL reconstruction in a single knee divided randomly into four experimental groups (A-D) and a control group, who all practiced a systematic rehabilitation exercise program. The patients in the experimental groups underwent backward walking using different treadmill angles: group A (0°), B (5°), C (10°) and D (15°). The whole training period comprised 4 weeks. Outcomes for the joint were assessed using the Angle Reproduction Test (ART) and Passive Motion Perception Test (PMPT).Results: Compared with the pre-training recorded parameters, significant differences were found in the ART and PMPT scores among all training groups and between the control group and the training groups. When the four training groups were compared with each other, there was no difference in the ART results between groups A and B, but significant differences were found between group A and groups C and D.Conclusion: Backward walking as a rehabilitation technique improved knee proprioception after ACL reconstruction. Increasing the angle of the treadmill during exercise improved the efficacy of rehabilitation.