***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
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    Input: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Controversy exists about the effectiveness of physical therapy after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy . This r and omized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of supervised physical therapy with a home program versus a home program alone . SUBJECTS Eighty-four patients ( 86 % males ; overall mean age=39 years , SD=9 , range=21 - 58 ; female mean age=39 years , SD=9 , range=24 - 58 ; male mean age=40 , SD=9 , range=21 - 58 ) who underwent an uncomplicated arthroscopic partial meniscectomy participated . METHODS Subjects were r and omly assigned to either a group who received 6 weeks of supervised physical therapy with a home program or a group who received only a home program . Blinded test sessions were conducted 5 and 50 days after surgery . Outcome measures were : ( 1 ) Hughston Clinic question naire , ( 2 ) Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey ( SF-36 ) and EuroQol EQ-5D ( EQ-5D ) question naires , ( 3 ) number of days to return to work after surgery divided by the Factor Occupational Rating System score , ( 4 ) kinematic analysis of knee function during level walking and stair use , and ( 5 ) horizontal and vertical hops . RESULTS No differences between groups were found for any of the outcomes measured . DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The results indicate that the supervised physical therapy used in this study is not beneficial for patients in the early period after uncomplicated arthroscopic partial meniscectomy Abstract To evaluate the effect of physiotherapy after partial arthroscopic meniscectomy , we performed a prospect i ve , r and omised and partially blinded study . This pilot study was performed from October 1996 to June 1997 . The control group received the st and ard treatment , consisting of verbal and written advice and exercises . The physiotherapy group performed exercises according to a dynamic protocol under the supervision of a physiotherapist . During a 3-week period , nine treatment sessions were given of 30 min each . Twenty patients , who had undergone arthroscopic meniscectomy without any other pathology of the knee , were r and omised into two groups of ten patients each . The effects of therapy were evaluated by a blinded observer . We measured the distance and height of one-leg jumps ( hops ) , the VAS pain scale , the Tegner and Lysholm scores and the SARS/FORS score . Recovery and satisfaction with the treatment were also evaluated . The effect measurements were performed at 7 ( T1 ) , 14 ( T2 ) , 21 ( T3 ) and 28 days ( T4 ) following surgery . Statistical analysis was performed with the Student ’s t-test . The physiotherapy group showed significantly better results than the control group regarding the SARS score , the hop test and the distance jumps . Moreover , the measurements showed clear progression in favour of the physiotherapy group . In conclusion , exercising under the supervision of a physiotherapist led to high patient satisfaction and good functional rehabilitation after partial arthroscopic meniscectomy In a r and omised controlled trial comparing the outcome of two groups of men aged 16 - 45 one group received outpatient physiotherapy after medial meniscectomy and the other did not .  In clinical aspects of knee function there was no significant difference between the test group and control group measured at specified intervals up to 26 weeks postoperatively . Similarly , there was no significant difference between the groups in the time taken to return to work or in the mean fall in take-home pay as a result of meniscectomy . The mean cost per patient of providing outpatient physiotherapy  in the test group was 23 pounds at 1976 prices . Thus the least costly way of returning male patients aged 16 - 45 to activity is by not providing routine outpatient physiotherapy after medial meniscectomy . Further r and omised controlled trials are , however , required to determine the value of physiotherapy in other age groups and other conditions We evaluated the outcome of and compared two rehabilitation programs ( clinic-based versus home ) after a mid-third patellar autograft reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament . Thirty-seven patients ( 28 male , 9 female ; average age , 24.1 years ) completed the study . Fifteen of these patients received clinic-based rehabilitation ( three visits per week for 6 weeks prescribed ) , and 22 patients received home-based physical therapy ( number of visits determined by patient response ) . Knee ROM , Lysholm , Visual Analogy Scale , ( VAS ) pain rating , hop test , KT-1000 , and Sickness Impact Profile ( SIP ) were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively . All patients reported good satisfaction with the function of their knee at average follow-up of 21.6 months ( range , 12 to 48 ) . Patients managed by home rehabilitation averaged 2.85 visits as compared with 14.2 for clinic-centered patient ( P < .05 ) . There were no differences in functional or subjective outcomes in the different postoperative rehabilitation regimens , with both groups reporting high satisfaction and improved quality of life . Cost savings in the home rehabilitation group were significant One hundred sixty patients ( mean age , 68 ± 8 years ) having primary total knee arthroplasty were assigned r and omly to two rehabilitation programs : ( 1 ) clinic-based rehabilitation provided by outpatient physical therapists ; or ( 2 ) home-based rehabilitation monitored by periodic telephone calls from a physical therapist . Both rehabilitation programs emphasized a common home exercise program . Before surgery , and at 12 and 52 weeks after surgery , no statistically significant differences were observed between the clinic- and the home-based groups on any of the following measures : ( 1 ) total score on the Knee Society clinical rating scale ; ( 2 ) total score on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ; ( 3 ) total score on the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form ; ( 4 ) pain scale of the Knee Society clinical rating scale ; ( 5 ) pain scale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ; ( 6 ) functional scale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ; ( 7 ) distance walked in 6 minutes ; ( 8) number of stairs ascended and descended in 30 seconds ; and ( 9 ) knee flexion range of motion , on either the per protocol or the intent-to-treat or the analyses . After primary total knee arthroplasty , patients who completed a home exercise program ( home-based rehabilitation ) performed similarly to patients who completed regular outpatient clinic sessions in addition to the home exercises ( clinic-based rehabilitation ) . Additional studies need to determine which patients are likely to benefit most from clinic-based rehabilitation programs Rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) reconstruction is varied . Patients are usually prescribed an independent home exercise program , although some patients may attend physical therapy for additional supervised exercise . It is not known whether additional supervised exercise provides any further benefit . The purpose of this study was to compare efficacy for two types of rehabilitation following ACL reconstruction . A r and omized controlled trial of 31 ACL-reconstructed patients was used to test the hypothesis that a home program plus supervised rehabilitation ( Group S ) is more effective than a home program ( Group H ) alone . Function , activity level , anterior tibial translation , and muscle strength were measured preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively . Improvement of function , activity level , muscle strength , and anterior tibial translation was evident in both groups , but no significant differences were found between groups even though the sample size was sufficient to detect small treatment effects . It was concluded that supervised exercise , in addition to a home program , has minimal extra benefit for patients who have undergone ACL reconstruction This prospect i ve study compared 30 patients r and omly assigned to either a home exercise program or supervised outpatient physical therapy following arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy . Their knee functions were assessed at 2 , 4 , and 8 weeks postoperatively using isokinetic analysis and subjective question naires . At each evaluation , the home exercise group performed as well or better than the supervised physical therapy group . There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups . At 4 weeks postoperation , the mean percent deficit in torque ( strength ) between the affected and unaffected limbs was 22.1 % in the supervised rehabilitation group and 22.0 % in the home exercise . The percent deficit in terms of endurance was 7.7 % in the supervised group and 3.6 % in the home group . Similar results were noted with regard to the patients ' subjective evaluations of their knee function and ability to resume work and recreational activities . We conclude that a well-planned , unsupervised home exercise knee rehabilitation program can produce equally good postoperative recovery as compared to a supervised outpatient physical therapy regimen in properly selected patients following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy of the knee BACKGROUND We have not found any reports on the effect of physiotherapy after knee replacement . PATIENTS AND METHODS In a prospect i ve r and omized controlled trial , we r and omized two groups to receive or not receive outpatient physiotherapy  following total knee arthroplasty . 120 patients were recruited over 2 years , each followed up for 1 year . Inclusion criteria were age between 55 - 90 years , less than 40 degrees of fixed flexion contracture and the ability to walk at least 10 meters unaided preoperatively with monoarticular arthrosis . RESULTS We found no statistically significant benefit of outpatient physiotherapy  at any of the three times measured . After adjusting for baseline differences between the two treatment groups , the mean difference in knee flexion 1 year postoperatively was only 2.9 degrees . This mean difference is of no clinical significance . INTERPRETATION We concluded that in a preselected group of patients following primary total knee arthroplasty , inpatient physiotherapy with good instructions and a well-structured home exercise regime can dispense with the need for outpatient physiotherapy The efficacy of an early , intensive , supervised rehabilitation program to accelerate knee strength recovery in the first 3 weeks postmeniscectomy by arthroscopy was evaluated using a r and omized controlled trial design . The maximal voluntary isokinetic strength of 31 men , r and omly allocated to either a  treatment ( EXP ) or a  control ( CTL ) group , was measured twice by a blind rater : preoperatively ( pretest ) and 3 weeks postsurgery ( posttest ) , using a computer-controlled Kin-Com dynamometer ( Chattecx Corporation , Chattanooga , TN ) . Strength deficits of the operated leg at the pretest and posttest were established in percent of the values obtained for the sound leg at the pretest . In the interval between the surgery and the posttest , the patients of the EXP group ( n = 15 ) received nine supervised treatments combined to home exercises whereas patients of the control group ( n = 16 ) had no specific physiotherapy treatment but were given instructions in postsurgical management and prescribed exercises by the orthopedic surgeons . Patients of the EXP group had better knee extensor strength recovery than patients of the CTL group ( ANCOVA , p < 0.001 ) . The size of the strength difference ( 3 weeks postsurgery ) between EXP and CTL subgroups ( n = 8) matched according to preoperative deficits was as large as 26 % and the residual deficits of the untreated patients were two to three times larger than those of the treated patients . The results of this study highlight the importance of instituting an early intensive and supervised rehabilitation program , especially for workers returning to a strenuous job requiring good knee extensor muscle function STUDY DESIGN Single-group , repeated- measures prospect i ve study . OBJECTIVES To analyze changes in impairments and disabilities among patients with anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) reconstruction  and to assess the relationships between the impairment and disability outcome measures from 3 months to 2 years following ACL reconstruction . BACKGROUND Outcomes after ACL reconstruction can be categorized as impairments or disabilities . The relationship between impairments and disabilities may be crucial to underst and ing physical therapy interventions and predicting long-term outcome . METHODS AND MEASURES Sixty patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction participated in the study . Impairment measures were range of motion , pain , knee-joint laxity , and muscle performance using  isokinetic muscle tests . Disability measures were the Cincinnati knee score and lower limb performance using the triple-jump and stair-hop tests . Follow-up times were 3 and 6 months and 1 and 2 years after surgery . RESULTS The Cincinnati knee score results show significant improvement 1 year after surgery ( 84.2 + /- 13.6 ) compared with 6 months ( 76.8 + /- 13.7 ) and 3 months ( 67.4 + /- 16.3 ) after surgery . Quadriceps total work ( percentage of normal leg ) significantly improved 2 years after surgery ( 92.6 + /- 14.1 % ) compared with 1 year after surgery ( 81.6 + /- 16.8 % ) . Between 37 and 75 % of the variability in the Cincinnati knee score could be explained by variation in the impairment variables , and quadriceps muscle performance and pain were the most significant predictors of disability . Extension deficit and pain at 3 months were significantly related to the Cincinnati knee score at the 2-year follow-up . CONCLUSIONS Up to 2 years may be needed to regain normal quadriceps muscle performance following ACL reconstruction . Pain and quadriceps muscle performance explained most of the variability in the Cincinnati knee score 
    Output:
    
GROWING POINTS Supervision and location does not seem to directly determine the final outcomes .