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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Early Weight-Bearing Rehabilitation Protocol After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Published on: March 1, 2024
Change in modified star excursion balance test performance between 6 and 12 months after anterior cruciate ligament
Zachary P J Rostron1, Julian A Feller2, Jodie A McClelland1
1School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Objectives:
To determine the change in modified star excursion balance test scores in patients between 6 and 12 months following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and the change in the proportion of patients who met recommended thresholds at each timepoint. A secondary aim was to assess whether change over time differed according to age, sex, graft type or activity level.
Design:
Longitudinal cohort.
Setting:
Orthopaedic Clinic.
Participants:
115 patients that completed 6- and 12-month testing after ACL reconstruction.
Main Outcome Measures:
Modified star excursion balance test scores (composite and individual reach scores).
Results:
There was a significant increase of test scores for the surgical limb at 12-months compared to 6-months (p < 0.005) with no differences in limb symmetry index. Most patients (92%) reached threshold composite scores >90% equivalent to individual leg length at 6-months. This proportion did not change at 12-months. Patient-related factors had no effect on change in test scores across time.
Conclusions:
The modified star excursion balance test may be more applicable to assess dynamic balance performance 6-months post-surgery. Almost all patients met pre-determined criteria for dynamic balance performance by 6-months following surgery. There was no impact of patient age, sex, graft type or activity level on change in performance between 6- and 12-months.