PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the postsurgical atrophy of the quadriceps femoris muscle following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. METHODS: 66 patients who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were randomly assigned to either group 1 that received FES or did not receive (group 2) the FES treatment in conjunction with their exercise therapy. Before surgery and after two, four and six weeks of rehabilitation the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris muscle was sonographically measured. Group means for the quadriceps muscle volumes were compared after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of rehabilitation. The progress of regeneration of the postsurgical atrophy was also compared. RESULTS: In both groups, the vastus medialis, lateralis intermedius and rectus femoris muscle atrophied. In the second postoperative week the degree of atrophy was found between 20% and 40$. In the following weeks the atrophy decreased, but it still wasn't eliminated by the sixth week. In the sixth rehabilitation week group 1 (treated with FES) achieved a significantly (p < 0.05) lower degree of atrophy compared to group 2. CONCLUSION: Neither FES in conjunction with exercise therapy nor exercise therapy alone could prevent the postsurgical atrophy of the quadriceps femoris muscle in the first two weeks of rehabilitation. However FES supports the regeneration process in the following weeks and results in a provable stronger reduction of the atrophy.

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