Following an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture and surgery, individuals typically decrease the volume of physical activity they participate in.  Standard rehabilitation programs try to increase muscle strength and range of motion at the joint, but it is unknown how an individual’s cardiorespiratory fitness is affected by this injury.  This study will allow for cardiorespiratory fitness to be evaluated in patients with a ruptured ACL as they wait for, and then recover from surgery.

Twenty patients with a ruptured ACL were recruited to participate in this study.  Patients had their cardiorespiratory fitness tested before surgery, and then again at 6-months and 12-months following surgery.

The desired outcome of this study for patients is to guide and adapt rehabilitation to optimize cardiorespiratory fitness in patients throughout recovery.