Isokinetic Strength Profiles Among Youth after Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction.
Christin M Zwolski, Grant R Poston, Laine A Anthony and 4 others
PMID 40041530WHAT IT FOUND
At about seven months after knee ligament reconstruction, less than 65% of young patients reached the standard 90% strength symmetry in their quadriceps.
Males consistently showed higher strength than females. Higher quadriceps strength was linked to better patient-reported function and quality of life.
Key findings
01Less than 65% of young patients achieved the traditional criterion of ≥90% limb symmetry index for quadriceps strength at a mean of 6.9 months post-surgery.
02Males demonstrated significantly higher normalized strength and a higher proportion achieving ≥90% limb symmetry compared to females across most age groups.
03Higher normalized quadriceps strength was significantly associated with better patient-reported knee function (IKDC) and quality of life (PedsQL), even after adjusting for age and sex.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Retrospective design means the specific rehabilitation protocols, exercises, and timing of return-to-sport clearance were not controlled or standardized. Data comes from a single institution, limiting generalizability to other healthcare systems or rehabilitation models. No control group of healthy youth was included, so it is unclear if the strength deficits are specific to the surgery or common in this population. Isokinetic strength testing measures only one aspect of physical readiness; it does not account for neuromuscular control, psychological readiness, or functional performance tasks like jumping or cutting.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study used data from an institutional registry.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the sex-based strength differences as evidence that females have poorer rehabilitation potential. The study found males had higher absolute normalized strength and LSI, but this reflects baseline physiological differences rather than a failure of treatment. Return-to-sport criteria should be individualized based on the patient's specific strength deficits and functional goals, not just their sex or time since surgery.