About this trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if people recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery will complete mental imagery training and if this will improve their injured leg's strength. The main questions are:
* Will people complete a five-day mental imagery exercise schedule while in physical therapy for ACLR? * Does mental imagery exercise help raise leg strength during ACLR recovery? Researchers will also compare if different mental imagery exercises involving leg extension or squats will change leg strength.
Participants will be asked to:
* Participate in two testing sessions to make measurements of leg function * Complete about 10 minutes of mental imagery exercises once per day for five days at home and write down whether they complete the exercises.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery
cleared to participate in physical therapy
currently in physical therapy related to ACLR
Disqualifiers
greater than 9 months post ACLR surgery
history of lower back of hip pain that would limit lower limb motor testing
current neurological condition that limits muscle strength
history of substance abuse in the last 5 years
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Mental Imagery Open Chain
- Mental Imagery Closed Chain