Muscle Strength Recovery Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Surgery and the Use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Abstract

Restoring knee stability often requires surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). While recovering from surgery, one major challenge is dealing with muscle weakness, especially in the quadriceps. As an additional treatment option, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is gaining popularity for this illness. Muscle strength and functional recovery can be enhanced with the use of NMES. This study aims to examine the efficacy of non-mechanical exercise therapy (NMES) in reestablishing muscle strength following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. Over the course of twelve weeks, a randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of standard rehabilitation techniques with and without NMES. Quadriceps strength, knee stability, and functional performance were all much improved in the NMES group compared to the control group. These alterations were far more pronounced, according to the findings. In the early phases of rehabilitation, NMES was very useful for correcting activation deficiencies and preventing muscular atrophy. These results provide credence to the idea that including non-muscular components (NMES) into rehabilitation programs following acromial ligament repair (ACL) can improve healing results and hasten the return to functional activities.