Interlimb asymmetry during walking following unilateral total knee arthroplasty

Osteoarthritis is the most common disease of the joints, and joint replacement surgery is often performed on the major lower extremity joints to relieve pain and improve function. While total knee arthroplasty is successful in restoring some degree of function, there are concerns in relation to the progression of osteoarthritis in other lower limb joints. The purpose of this study was to determine the symmetry of interlimb loading, knee excursion and knee joint stiffness following unilateral total knee arthroplasty. The null hypotheses that vertical loading peak, loading rates, knee flexion excursion and knee flexion stiffness would be the same in the involved and uninvolved limbs after unilateral total knee arthroplasty were tested. Sixteen subjects (eight male and eight female) with previous total knee arthroplasty participated. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected bilaterally during overground walking using a seven camera motion capture system and two force platforms. Following recovery from unilateral total knee arthroplasty, peak vertical ground reaction force, loading rates, knee flexion stiffness and knee flexion excursion are similar in the involved and uninvolved limbs.