RegentK and Physiotherapy Support Knee Function after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture without Surgery after 1 Year: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Recent data have opened the debate on whether conservative treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture might be an alternative treatment option to surgery. In a previous study, such a conservative treatment, i.e. ‘Regenerative Therapy According to Mohammed Khalifa' (RegentK), had shown good effects over physiotherapy. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of 1 session of RegentK compared to the myofascial mobilization technique (MMT), another type of intensive physiotherapy, in 20 patients with fresh ACL rupture during the previous 4 weeks. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) 2000 score was measured before, immediately after, and 3 months after treatment, and 1 year later; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were taken before treatment and 1 year after treatment. Results: Both groups were comparable at baseline. A repeated measures analysis of variance showed a strong effect of time (p < 0.0001; partial η 2 = 0.81) and no significant interaction or group effect. Both groups reached near full function after 1 year. The IKDC score was 90.9 (standard deviation (SD) 6.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 86.2-95.6) for the RegentK group and 93.3 (SD 3.1; 95% CI 91.1-95.5) for the MMT group. Conclusion: One treatment session of enhanced MMT physiotherapy or RegentK can lead to nearly full function and thus recovery of a ruptured ACL after 1 year.