Different knee joint loading patterns in ACL deficient copers and non-copers during walking
Tine Alkjær1, Marius Henriksen, Erik B Simonsen
1Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Division of Biomechanics, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark. talkjaer@sund.ku.dk
Summary
Individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears adopt different walking patterns. Copers, unlike non-copers, exhibit altered knee loading strategies that may enhance joint stability after injury.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture significantly alters lower limb biomechanics.
- Individuals with ACL deficiency adapt their gait, with distinct patterns observed in 'copers' and 'non-copers'.
- The impact of these adaptive gait strategies on knee joint forces remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of distinct walking patterns in copers, non-copers, and control subjects on knee compression and shear forces during gait.
- To elucidate the relationship between gait adaptations and knee joint loading post-ACL rupture.
Main Methods:
- Three-dimensional gait analysis was conducted on three groups: copers (n=9), non-copers (n=10), and healthy controls (n=19).
- A biomechanical model utilized net knee joint moments, reaction forces, and sagittal knee angles as inputs.
- The model assessed knee compression and shear forces during walking.
Main Results:
- Non-copers demonstrated significantly lower knee compression and shear forces compared to controls.
- Copers showed increased knee compression at heel strike relative to both non-copers and controls.
- Peak shear forces were significantly dependent on peak knee extensor moments, with copers exhibiting reduced shear force at equivalent extensor moments compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Observed differences in knee joint loading patterns between non-copers and copers reflect distinct walking strategies.
- The gait strategy employed by copers may represent an effective method for stabilizing the knee joint after ACL rupture.
- Investigating gait retraining for non-copers to emulate copers' strategies could improve knee joint stability.
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