The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if using a phone app for exercises is as effective as working with a physical therapist before anterior cruciate ligament knee surgery. It will also check if exercising before surgery helps patients recover better compared to those who do not follow a specific exercise plan. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does the phone app help patients improve their knee strength and movement as well as seeing a physical therapist? * Do patients who exercise before surgery have a better recovery after surgery than those who do not?
Researchers will compare the phone app group to a physical therapist group and a group with no specific exercise plan to see which method works best.
Participants will:
* Follow an exercise plan for 4 weeks before their surgery (either using the app, with a therapist, or no specific plan). * Visit the clinic for check-ups before starting the exercises, right before the surgery, and 6 months after the surgery. * Complete simple tests and surveys to measure their knee health.
Patients with a diagnosed unilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture
Patients scheduled for ACL reconstruction surgery.
Age between 18 and 45 years.
Patients willing to participate and sign the informed consent form.
Patients with multiple ligament injuries (e.g., combined ACL and PCL/MCL injury).
Patients with bilateral ACL injuries.
Presence of accompanying fractures around the knee joint.
Presence of active infection.
Parallel
Mobile App Exercise Program
BehavioralA 4-week progressive home exercise program delivered via a smartphone app. It focuses on range of motion, edema control, strengthening, and balance exercises.
Supervised Physiotherapy
BehavioralA 4-week in-clinic exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist, including the same exercises as the app group
Isometric Quadriceps Muscle Strength
Muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer (Newton). Measurements will be taken at 30 and 70 degrees of knee flexion. The highest value of 3 trials will be recorded.
Isometric Hamstring Muscle Strength
Muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer (Newton) at 35 and 60 degrees of flexion
IKDC 2000 Subjective Knee Evaluation Form
A patient-reported outcome measure evaluating knee symptoms and function. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better function
Knee Range of Motion (ROM)
Active knee flexion and extension will be measured using a electronic goniometer (degrees)
Single Leg Hop Test (Limb Symmetry Index)
Participants will hop as far as possible on a single leg. The distance is measured in cm. The Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) will be calculated by comparing the operated leg to the healthy leg.
Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT)
Dynamic balance will be assessed by reaching in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. Reach distances will be normalized to leg length.
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