BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions is based mainly on comprehensive progressive exercise programmes using a multi-dimensional approach. Elastic knee sleeves may be useful adjuncts to rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to determine the immediate and 6-week effects of wearing a knee sleeve on person-reported outcomes and function in participants who had undergone an ACL reconstruction and who had residual self-reported functional limitations. METHODS: Individuals with ACL reconstruction in the previous 6 months to 5 years were recruited. Immediate effects of a commercially-available elastic knee sleeve on single-leg horizontal hop distance were explored using a cross-over design. Following this first session, participants were randomised into a control group and a sleeve group who wore the sleeve for 6 weeks, at least 1 h daily. Outcome measures for the randomised clinical trial (RCT) were the International Knee Documentation Classification Subjective Knee Form (IKDC-SKF) score, the single-leg horizontal hop distance, and isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring peak torque. Linear mixed models were used to determine random effects. Where both limbs were measured at multiple time points, a random measurement occasion effect nested within participant was used. RESULTS: Thirty-four individuals (16 women) with ACL reconstruction completed the cross-over trial. Hop distance for the injured side during the sleeve condition increased by 3.6% (95% CI 0.4 to 6.8%, p = 0.025). There was no evidence of differential changes between groups for the IKDC-SKF (sleeve group n = 15; control group n = 16; p = 0.327), or relative improvement in the injured side compared to the uninjured side for the physical performance measures (sleeve group n = 12, control group n = 12; three-way interaction p = 0.533 (hop distance), 0.381 (quadriceps isokinetic peak torque), and 0.592 (hamstring isokinetic peak torque)). CONCLUSIONS: Single-leg hop distance of the ACL reconstructed side improved when wearing a knee sleeve. Wearing the knee sleeve over 6 weeks did not lead to enhanced improvements in self-reported knee function, hop distance and thigh muscle strength compared to the control group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was prospectively registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number ACTRN12618001083280, 28 June 2018.

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