Objective To compare the clinical effects of open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises with those of closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises and limited open kinetic chain combined with closed kinetic chain exercises on rehabilitation after the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Methods Ninety-four patients recovering from single-bundle anterior ligament reconstructions were enrolled and randomly divided into an OKC group (n =33),a CKC group (n =30) or a limited open kinetic chain combined with closed kinetic chain group (combined group) (n =31).Lysholm score,International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score,KT-1000,and active and passive range of motion were evaluated for the 3 groups three and six months after the surgery.Results Three months after surgery,significant differences were found among the 3 groups in Lysholm scores [(87.00±4.79),(83.67± 3.55) and (86.71±3.62) respectively],IKDC scores [(89.45±4.79),(86.40±3.76) and (88.58±3.60) respectively],KT-1000[(1.99±0.30),(1.05±0.26) and (1.02±0.24) mm],as well as active and passive range of motion [(10.06±2.06),(7.73±1.41) and (8.10±1.35) mm;(9.76±2.26),(7.87±1.89) and (8.39±1.62) mm] (P＜ 0.05).Six months after surgery,no significant differences were found in Lysholm scores and IKDC scores(P＞0.05),but significant differences were found in KT-1000,and active and passive range of motion(P＜0.05) compared to those at 3 months after surgery.Moreover,there were no significant differences between the OKC and combined groups in Lysholm scores and IKDC scores(P＞0.05),but significant differences between them in active and passive range of motion (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences between the CKC and combined groups in Lysholm scores,IKDC scores,KT-1000,and active and passive range of motion(P＜0.05).Conclusion Combining limited open kinetic chain exercise with closed kinetic chain exercise is safe and reliable in the rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.