Exercises After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Open or Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction


I wanted to post about a recent research paper I was reading titled “Open- or Closed-Kinetic Chain Exercises After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction”.

I was reading this research paper because from strength and conditioning/sports performance point of view I believe in Closed-Kinetic Chain exercises, but I also work with several client that have had past ACL injuries and I am open to anything that will make them a better athlete! The most interesting thing I found was that “OKC and CKC exercises for rehabilitation of the ACL-reconstructed was the load differences may not be clinically significant and that both exercise types, in combination, may be important for ACL rehabilitation. Additional prospective randomized clinical trials must be performed to determine the optimal time to introduce these exercises”

I would have to say that within the last year I have come across more athletes/ clients looking for guidance and training after coming out of physical therapy and wanting to get back into playing full speed. And more and more I am seeing major problems with the athlete being told they are “cleared to play at full speed”. Most of the athletes that have come to me from a port rehab setting have only performed minimal OKC exercises at the least. I have found that no balance or stability drills have been incorporated into the rehab program. I think this is where most athletes do not understand just because they are cleared from a PT that they are ready to go running full speed on the field! This is where a quality performance specialist should come into play! This is not to say all PT's are not adequately providing their clients with the necessary exercises for proper rehabilitation, but most rehab centers are not designed to develop the athletic ability needed to perform at a high level. The job of a PT is to get you back into normal everyday living.

**OKC exercises as those in which the foot is not in contact with a solid surface (Leg extensions)

**CKC exercises as those in which the foot is in contact with a solid surface. (Squat, Lunge)


Brian Van Hook
VH Sports Performance – Las Vegas, NV


1. Braden C. Fleming, Heidi Oksendahl, Bruce D. Beynnon. Open or Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev. 2005. Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 134–140