RESUMEN
To create a rehabilitation protocol following reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), through a literature review. The literature review was conducted in the Medline and Embase databases, to search for data on biomechanical concepts and analyses relating to the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee. The search strategy was set up using the following rules: problem or injury in association with anatomical location terms; or surgical intervention procedure in association with rehabilitation terms. We began the process in this manner and subsequently introduced restrictions on certain terms to improve the search specificity. To design the protocol, a table was created for better data assessment, based on the time that elapsed between surgery and the start of physiotherapy. A rehabilitation protocol was created to improve weight-bearing control in the initial weeks after surgery, with the aid of a knee brace. Our aim was to achieve gains in total range of motion of the knee, which should be attained by the third month, thereby avoiding contractures resulting from the tissue healing process. Strengthening exercises and sensory-motor training were guided accordingly, thus avoiding overload on the graft and respecting the healing phases. The protocol proposed through this review was based on the current evidence relating to this subject.
RESUMEN
Elaborar um protocolo de reabilitação pós-reconstrução do ligamento cruzado posterior (LCP) através de revisão da literatura. Foi realizada uma revisão da literatura em busca de dados referentes a conceitos e estudos biomecânicos relacionados com o ligamento cruzado posterior do joelho, utilizando-se os bancos de dados Medline e Embase. A estratégia de busca foi montada com a seguinte regra: problema ou lesão, associado a termos de localização anatômica, procedimento de intervenção cirúrgica associado a termos de reabilitação. Iniciamos o processo desta forma e posteriormente realizamos restrições a termos específicos para melhorar a especificidade da busca. Para confecção do protocolo, uma tabela foi construída para melhor direcionamento dos dados, com base no tempo decorrido do procedimento cirúrgico até o início da fisioterapia. Um protocolo de reabilitação foi criado para melhor controle da descarga de peso nas primeiras semanas com o auxílio de imobilizador de joelho. Objetivamos o ganho da amplitude de movimento total do joelho, que deve ser conseguido até o terceiro mês, evitando-se, assim, contraturas resultantes do processo de cicatrização tecidual. Os exercícios de fortalecimento e treino sensório-motor foram orientados de acordo, evitando-se sobrecarga sobre o enxerto e respeitando os períodos de cicatrização do mesmo. O protocolo proposto nesta revisão foi enquadrado dentro das evidências atuais sobre o assunto.
To create a rehabilitation protocol following reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), through a literature review. The literature review was conducted in the Medline and Embase databases, to search for data on biomechanical concepts and analyses relating to the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee. The search strategy was set up using the following rules: problem or injury in association with anatomical location terms; or surgical intervention procedure in association with rehabilitation terms. We began the process in this manner and subsequently introduced restrictions on certain terms to improve the search specificity. To design the protocol, a table was created for better data assessment, based on the time that elapsed between surgery and the start of physiotherapy. A rehabilitation protocol was created to improve weight-bearing control in the initial weeks after surgery, with the aid of a knee brace. Our aim was to achieve gains in total range of motion of the knee, which should be attained by the third month, thereby avoiding contractures resulting from the tissue healing process. Strengthening exercises and sensory-motor training were guided accordingly, thus avoiding overload on the graft and respecting the healing phases. The protocol proposed through this review was based on the current evidence relating to this subject.