BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on whether closed kinetic chain (CKC) or open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises should be the intervention of choice following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or reconstruction. METHODS: A systematic search identified randomized controlled trials of OKC versus CKC exercise training in people who had undergone ACL reconstructive surgery. All published studies in this systematic review were comparisons between OKC and CKC groups. RESULTS: Seven studies were included. Lysholm knee scoring scale was not significantly different between OKC and CKC exercise patients: MD -1.03%; CI -13.02 to 10.95; p value = 0.87 (Chi2 = 0.18, df = 1, and p value = 0.67). Hughston clinic questionnaire scores were not significantly different between OKC and CKC exercise patients: MD -1.29% (-12.02 to 9.43); p value = 0.81 (Chi2 = 0.01, df = 1, and p value = 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: While OKC and CKC may be beneficial during ACL surgical rehabilitation, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that either one is superior to the other.

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