Treadmill training with partial body-weight support after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial.

Only 40 subjects were included, and the authors state the sample size was small. Follow-up was short, and the authors say long-term knee stability, lower limb function and gait changes need further observation. The paper does not state which outcome was primary, so the relative weight of the 12-week differences and the 24-week null result cannot be judged from the paper alone. The treatment group received the same conventional rehabilitation program as controls plus treadmill training, so the contribution of treadmill training alone cannot be separated. Knee stability was assessed by physical examination rather than MRI, so tendon-bone healing and bone tunnel expansion were not observed. All reconstructions were performed at the acute stage, and the authors say a preoperative evaluation cannot be carried out as accurately as postoperatively. The supplied text does not report whether participants, therapists or assessors were blinded. The 24-week result is not entirely clear because the text says most measures had no significant difference, while the table marks an IKDC difference as p<0.01.

The supplied text does not report funding or conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that treadmill training with partial body-weight support alone improved outcomes. The treatment group also received the same conventional rehabilitation program as controls, so the contribution of treadmill training alone cannot be separated.