The Effect of Six-weeks Home-based Toe-in Walking Exercise on Single Leg Hope Test and Figure of Eight Test Records in Subjects with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Pilot Study

Anterior cruciate ligament injury(ACL)is more common than other types of injuries in knee joint ligaments. The primary goal of rehabilitation for ACL injury is to restore subject’s function. No study to date has investigated the clinical effect of toe-in waling exercise in subjects with anterior cruciate ligament injury; although its effect on gait has been discussed, extensively. Present study was aimed to determine the effect of six-week home based supervised toe-in walking exercise on function of non-coper anterior cruciate ligament deficient subjects in single hope test and figure of eight test.

This study was designed as a pilot quasi experimental study. Seven young non-coper men suffering from anterior cruciate ligament injury were selected according to the inclusion criteria introduced by Fitzgerald et. al. The participants got training for toe-in walking. They were instructed to walk at home with shoes for 30 minutes every day for 6 weeks. Subjects’ function in single hope test and figure of eight test was recorded. All participants were asked to fill in the IKDC before and after training program. Data were analyzed by SPSS, version 16.

The quadriceps strength(P=0.05), single hope test score(P=0.04)and figure of eight test score(P=0.001)improved significantly following six weeks of toe-in walking program at home. The improvement in limb symmetry index and IKDC score were not statistically significant.

It seems that suggested training program may improve the function of subjects suffering from anterior cruciate ligament injury.