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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
Published on: May 26, 2020
Tibiofemoral joint contact forces and knee kinematics during squatting
Stacey M Smith1, Robert A Cockburn, Andrea Hemmerich
1Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, McLaughlin Hall, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. smiths@me.queensu.ca
Abstract:
Axial tibiofemoral joint contact forces were non-invasively determined for two high range of motion (high flexion) squatting activities. An electromagnetic motion tracking system and a non-conductive force platform were used to collect kinematic and kinetic data. An innovative scaling method was used to model subject-specific muscle group moment arms. One subject attained a peak axial tibiofemoral joint contact force of 49.7 N/kg during squatting at 149.9 degrees knee flexion. Average joint angles and average axial joint contact forces were calculated for each of the activities in order to facilitate a comparison with stair climbing data. Compared to stair climbing, the maximum average joint contact forces during the squatting activities occurred at significantly higher flexion angles (p<0.05.) The relative simplicity of the method makes it useful for application to large subject groups from diverse regions. The results of this study can be applied to the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies, and to the development of high range of motion (ROM) knee replacements.
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