The Impact of Superimposed Vibration on the Recovery of Muscle Strength and Function Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery

Restoring muscle strength following knee ligament reconstruction (of the anterior cruciate ligament, ACL) is a major challenge for the functional success of rehabilitation. Despite advances in rehabilitation protocols, many patients still experience persistent strength deficits several months after surgery. Current rehabilitation strategies rely primarily on neuromuscular training programs aimed at restoring maximum strength and joint range of motion. However, these approaches exhibit significant interindividual variability and do not always fully resolve persistent muscle inhibition. In this context, local vibration appears to be a promising tool. This project aims to evaluate the benefits of repeated application of local vibration superimposed on muscle strengthening exercises (recovery of quadriceps strength, single-leg balance, quadriceps power, perception of effort and pain, knee range of motion) performed during the first six weeks of post-ligamentoplasty rehabilitation. The underlying hypothesis is that the addition of sensory stimulation via vibration, superimposed on rehabilitation exercises, could facilitate muscle activation and, ultimately, accelerate the functional recovery of the quadriceps.The expected results could help validate the use of this approach as a standardized tool within post-ACL rehabilitation protocols, by promoting faster muscle recovery and reducing the duration of functional disability.