***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: UNLABELLED The efficacy of a 6-week rehabilitation program was evaluated in 100 consecutive patients , age 15 - 42 years , with acute anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) injury . Arthroscopy revealed associated lesions in 82 % of the patients . Except for resections on menisci with large and unstable lesions , no surgery was performed . The patients were r and omly assigned to supervised training or self-monitored training after instruction . RESULTS At the 6-week follow-up there was no difference between the groups with regard to pain at rest , pain during walking , or experience of giving-way episodes , Tegner activity level of Lysholm knee score . Only 2 of the 100 patients were observed without joint mobility restriction . The only significant difference between the groups was the improvement of muscle function in men in the supervised training group . CONCLUSION Six weeks ' rehabilitation is too short a time period from original injury to obtain normal mobility and restored knee function A prospect i ve comparative study was conducted involving 62 patients to determine the effects and limits of accelerated rehabilitation on clinical outcome . The study focused on whether aggressive rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the doubled semitendinosus and gracilis tendon autograft results in stretching the graft . Thirty patients had postoperative rehabilitation according to the current conservative protocol , and 32 patients had rehabilitation using an accelerated regime .  Each patient was evaluated subjectively and objective ly 36 months or more after surgery . Concerning the side-to-side difference in the anterior laxity , 87 % of the patients in the conservative rehabilitation group had 3 mm or less and 80 % of the patients in the accelerated rehabilitation group had the same acceptable laxity . There was no significant difference between the two groups . Muscle torque was restored significantly earlier in the patients in the accelerated rehabilitation group than in the patients in the conservative rehabilitation group . Nine months after surgery , however , there were no significant differences in the torque between the two groups . Accelerated rehabilitation significantly increased the incidence of knee effusion during rehabilitation . This study showed that acceleration of postoperative rehabilitation could rapidly restore muscle strength without significantly compromising graft stability in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the doubled hamstring tendon autograft . However , this study also showed that acceleration significantly increases the incidence of synovitis . Acceleration of postoperative rehabilitation has advantages and disadvantages for clinical outcome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction A prospect i ve , blinded , r and omised controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of quadriceps exercises  following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction . A treatment group ( Quadriceps exercise group ) performed straight leg raises and isometric quadriceps contractions throughout the first two postoperative weeks , and a second group ( No quadriceps exercise group ) did not . A battery of outcome measures assessed subjects postoperatively at day one , two weeks , and one , three and six months . A total of 103 patients ( Quadriceps exercise n = 48 , No quadriceps exercise n = 55 ) commenced the study with 91 subjects available at final follow up ( Quadriceps exercise n = 47 , No quadriceps exercise n = 44 ) . Performance of quadriceps exercises significantly improved a number of knee flexion and extension range of motion measurements ( p = 0.01 to 0.04 ) . No significant differences were found between the two groups at any postoperative period for quadriceps lag ( p = 0.36 ) , functional hop testing ( p = 0.49 to 0.51 ) , isokinetic quadriceps strength ( p = 0.70 to 0.72 ) , the majority of numerical analogue scores ( p = 0.1 to 0.94 ) and Cincinnati scores ( p = 0.10 to 0.84 ) . Subjects performing quadriceps exercises reported significantly higher pain scores with exercise on the first postoperative day ( p = 0.02 ) . At six months postoperatively , the Quadriceps exercise subjects reported significantly more favourable Cincinnati scores for symptoms ( p = 0.005 ) and problems with sport ( p = 0.05 ) . While average knee laxity was not significantly different between treatment groups over time ( p = 0.27 to 0.94 ) , quadriceps exercise performance was associated with a significantly lower incidence of abnormal knee laxity .  Isometric quadriceps exercises and straight leg raises can be safely prescribed during the first two postoperative weeks and confer advantages for faster recovery of knee range of motion and stability . It remains to be proven whether the magnitude of differences between groups is clinical ly significant We conducted a prospect i ve study on 50 consecutive patients who received a single-incision arthroscopic patellar tendon autograft reconstruction for anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) rupture . The purpose s were to determine if differences existed in results between patients with acute and chronic ACL ruptures , and if a progressive rehabilitation program could safely return patients to sports activities early without compromising knee stability . Forty-two patients ( 84 % ) returned for follow-up a mean of 31 months postoperatively . Twenty-one patients had acute ruptures , and 21 , chronic ruptures . A progressive rehabilitation program was used by 28 patients ( 67 % ) who met strict criteria , which allowed early return to running and sports activities . The results were rated with the Cincinnati Knee Rating System . We found no effect of either injury chronicity or time to return to activity for 21 factors , including anterior-posterior displacement , patellofemoral crepitus , range of knee motion , quadriceps muscle strength , symptoms , functional limitations , or the patient rating of outcome . Using arthrometer and pivot-shift test data , 30 knees ( 71 % ) had a functional reconstruction ; 8 knees ( 19 % ) had partial function ; and 4 knees ( 10 % ) failed . Patients expressed satisfaction with the operation as follows : 23 ( 55 % ) rated their overall knee condition as normal ; 16 ( 38 % ) , very good ; and 3 ( 7 % ) , good . No patients rated their knee condition as fair or poor A r and omised controlled trial ( 29 participants ) was used to compare a 6-week proprioceptive and balance exercise program with a 6-week strengthening program in the early phases of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) reconstruction . Measurements of functional activity were taken by a blinded assessor before the intervention and at the end of the 6 weeks . Results demonstrated that there were no significant differences between groups on hop testing at 6 weeks . For several items in the Cincinnati knee rating system and the patient specific functional scale however , the strengthening group improved more than the proprioceptive and balance group ( p < .05 ) . The hypothesis that proprioceptive and balance training would improve functional activity more than strengthening exercises was not supported . There was either no difference between the two forms of exercise or strength training may be more beneficial than proprioceptive and balance training in the early phase of rehabilitation after ACL reconstructive surgery STUDY DESIGN Two-group repeated measures design using a sample of convenience of subjects with anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) reconstructive surgery . OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of incorporating one specific weight-bearing exercise ( lateral slide exercise using a slide board ) into an ACL reconstruction home exercise program . BACKGROUND Reduced clinic visits have increased the importance of home exercise programs in knee ligament reconstruction rehabilitation . Few studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of specific exercises as part of a home-based treatment program on subjects who have undergone ACL reconstruction . METHODS AND MEASURES Fourteen subjects who underwent patella tendon autograft reconstruction on one of their ACLs were studied . Testing consisted of the following 4 measurements : peak isometric knee extension torque , peak isometric knee flexion torque , maximum lateral step height , and lateral step-up repetitions to fatigue . Subjects were pretested at 8 weeks after surgery and were r and omly placed into either a control or experimental group . The postsurgical rehabilitation was similar for both groups , except the experimental group incorporated lateral slide exercise into their home exercise program . All subjects were re-evaluated 14 weeks after surgery . RESULTS A 2-way repeated measure ANOVA ( group by test session ) , and posthoc testing revealed significant improvements in the slide group for quadricep strength ( 101.9 + /- 31.3 N m to 140.5 + /- 31.3 N m of torque ) , while the control group showed no significant increase ( 125.1 + /- 61.7 N m to 125.8 + /- 45.1 N m of torque ) . Lateral step height also improved in the slide group ( from 22.9 + /- 5.3 cm to 28.7 + /- 5.6 cm ) , while the control group showed no increase ( 20.0 + /- 4.5 cm to 20.7 + /- 3.4 cm ) . Both groups increased in lateral step-up repetitions to fatigue . CONCLUSION Including lateral slide exercise in a home exercise program after ACL reconstruction appears to improve knee extension strength Most systematic review s rely substantially on the assessment of the method ological quality of the individual trials . The aim of this study was to obtain consensus among experts about a set of generic core items for quality assessment of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) . The invited participants were experts in the field of quality assessment of RCTs . The initial item pool contained all items from existing criteria lists . Subsequently , we reduced the number of items by using the Delphi consensus technique . Each Delphi round comprised a question naire , an analysis , and a feedback report . The feedback report included staff team decisions made on the basis of the analysis and their justification . A total of 33 international experts agreed to participate , of whom 21 completed all question naires . The initial item pool of 206 items was reduced to 9 items in three Delphi rounds . The final criteria list ( the Delphi list ) was satisfactory to all participants . It is a starting point on the way to a minimum reference st and ard for RCTs on many different research topics . This list is not intended to replace , but rather to be used alongside , existing criteria lists ACL injury leads to a decrease in proprioceptive abilities , which can be improved with ACL surgery and postoperative rehabilitation . The goal of our study was to investigate whether the impact of coordinative training can be differentiated from the influence of surgery on proprioceptive improvement , and whether there is a correlation between improvement in coordinative abilities and other objective parameters of functional recovery . This follow-up study included 45 patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction and who were r and omised into a conservative ( TH-C ) and an intensive ( TH-I ) rehabilitation group . In the TH-I group , coordinative training began earlier due to unrestricted weight-bearing . The groups were first compared preoperatively , then postoperatively , after 6 weeks , 4 , 6 , 9 , and 12 months via the single leg stance test , the one leg hop test , the Lysholm knee score , and the Tegner score . A faster recovery of coordinative skills was registered in the TH-I group . Already after 6 weeks , highly statistically significant progress in one leg stance abilities was noticed , while in the TH-C group the same was not noticed until 4 months after surgery ( p < 0.01 ) . Such a result speaks for the distinct influence of proprioceptive training on coordinative abilities . Also , a highly statistically significant correlation was noticed between the single leg stance , one leg hop , Lysholm , and Tegner tests ( p < 0.01 ) , which points out the importance of a good rehabilitation programme , since neuromuscular performance can not be separated from other parameters of functional recovery Objective To examine the effective use of stairclimbing as an alternative to cycling for knee rehabilitation in an actual injured sport population . Design Repeated- measures multivariate analyses with data collected during  anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) rehabilitation . Setting Clinical rehabilitation setting following ACL reconstruction . Participants 46 athletes with ACL reconstruction ( 32 males , 14 females ; age 25.5 ± 8.9 yrs ) were r and omly assigned to either cycle or stairclimber programs previously matched by metabolic equivalents ( METs ) and heart rate . Main Outcome Measures Isokinetic testing was performed at 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively on the uninjured knee to safely determine mean and peak concentric quadriceps , eccentric quadriceps , concentric hamstring , and eccentric hamstring peak torques . Pre/post leg girths were also measured bilaterally ( + 7.6 , + 15.2 , + 22.9 , −7.6 , −15.2 , −22.9 cm ) proximal/distal to the patella . Results Multivariate analysis of variance indicated no differences ( Wilks ' Lambda F8,37 = 1.461 ; p = 0.21 ; η2 = 0.240 ; Power = 0.556 ) in strength gains ( NM ) between cycle and stairclimbing groups , respectively , in mean concentric quadriceps ( 58.4 ± 12.0 vs. 37.1 ± 13.2 ) , peak concentric quadriceps ( 77.0 ± 14.7 vs. 36.8 ± 16.2 ) , mean eccentric quadriceps ( 57.2 ± 12.7 vs. 79.2 ± 14.0 ) , peak eccentric quadriceps ( 78.6 ± 19.3 vs. 105.5 ± 21.3 ) , mean concentric hamstring ( 14.3 ± 3.9 vs. 6.5 ± 4.3 ) , peak concentric hamstring ( 24.0 ± 6.7 vs.  
    Output:
    
Insufficient evidence was found to support the efficacy of one exercise intervention over another .
This review has demonstrated an absence of evidence to support one form of exercise intervention over another .