Functional Movement Training Versus Functional Stability Training in Post-ACL Surgery

Effects of Functional Movement Training Versus Functional Stability Training on Stregth, Balance and Performance in Athelets With Post-ACL Reconstruction

This randomized controlled trial study will include 32 athletes aged 18-35 who had ACL surgery. After surgery, participants will be selected and assigned randomly to the Functional Movement Training or Functional Stability Training groups. The Functional Movement Training protocol will include exercise: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and rotatory stability etc. The Functional Stability Training protocol will emphasize exercises Single-leg squats, Balance boards or BOSU ball training, Planks and side planks., Step-ups, lunges, and agility drills. Both exercises will be performed 3 times per week for 8 weeks. The main goals will be to assess pain, balance and function and knee stability. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Japanese Knee Questionnaire (JACL 25) and PRSI tools will be used for collecting data. The analysis will be conducted with SPSS software and it will include use of descriptive statistics, Normality test, independent t-tests, and paired t-tests. The significance level will be p < 0.05 for this study.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: ACL Injury
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Functional Movement training; Other: Functional stability training

Detailed Description

Athletes involves fast movement and intense activity which places great stress on the leg muscles and increases the chances of ACL injuries. Changing direction quickly, jumping and landing strangely or encountering another person or an object can result in these injuries. Rehabilitation efforts after ACL reconstruction should cover strengthening the joint and enhancing neuromuscular skills that athletes need for their sporting activities. It is hypothesized that following rehabilitation protocols involving functional movements and stability exercises may improve control of muscles, make joints more stable and lead to safer movement techniques. Aiming to see the effects of Functional Movement Training compared to Functional Stability Training on function and stability post-ACL surgery in athletes, this study will investigate their meaning.

This randomized controlled trial study will include 32 athletes aged 18-35 who had ACL surgery. After surgery, participants will be selected and assigned randomly to the Functional Movement Training or Functional Stability Training groups. The Functional Movement Training protocol will include exercise: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and rotatory stability etc. The Functional Stability Training protocol will emphasize exercises Single-leg squats, Balance boards or BOSU ball training, Planks and side planks., Step-ups, lunges, and agility drills. Both exercises will be performed 3 times per week for 8 weeks. The main goals will be to assess pain, balance and function and knee stability. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Japanese Knee Questionnaire (JACL 25) and PRSI tools will be used for collecting data. The analysis will be conducted with SPSS software and it will include use of descriptive statistics, Normality test, independent t-tests, and paired t-tests. The significance level will be p < 0.05 for this study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Amna Shahid, t-dpt; Phone Number: 0334-4512823; Email: amna.shahid@riphah.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54660
      • Recruiting
      • Sheikh zayed hospital Lahore
      • Contact: Amna Shahid, T-DPT; Phone Number: 03344512823; Email: amna.shahid@riphah.edu.pk
      • Contact: Rimza Ramzan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male Athletes
• Athletes aged between 18-35 years
• Athletes who have undergone ACL reconstructive surgery within the previous 3-6 months .

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of multiple knee surgeries (meniscus repair, partial meniscectomy, or cartilage repair) Other lower limb injuries affecting rehabilitation
• Systemic illnesses affecting musculoskeletal function
• Individuals with alcohol or drug abuse issues
• Those involved in other weight and balance training programs

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Functional Movement training; Funtional movement training	Other: Functional Movement training; The Functional Movement Training protocol will include exercise: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and rotatory stability etc.
Experimental: Functional stability training	Other: Functional stability training; The Functional Stability Training protocol will emphasize exercises Single-leg squats, Balance boards or BOSU ball training, Planks and side planks., Step-ups, lunges, and agility drills.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Through NPRS	Pain through NPRS	Pre and 6 week post interventional
Stablity and function through JACL-25	Stablity and function through JACL-25	Pre and 6 week post interventional

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rimza Ramzan, DPT, Study Principal Investigator

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Majewska J, Kolodziej-Lackorzynska G, Cyran-Grzebyk B, Szymczyk D, Kolodziej K, Wadolkowski P. Effects of Core Stability Training on Functional Movement Patterns in Tennis Players. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 30;19(23):16033. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192316033.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ACL; training; functional stability
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Knee Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/RCR & AHS/25/0420

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No