Muscle recruitment strategies can reduce joint loading during level walking

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Musculoskeletal Health
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Joint inflammation and cartilage damage impair function in musculoskeletal diseases.
• Mechanical loading is a key factor in disease progression.
• Joint unloading is a potential conservative treatment strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of neuromuscular rehabilitation to reduce lower-limb joint loading during walking.
• To determine the extent of joint load reduction achievable through alternative muscle recruitment.
• To assess the impact of targeted joint load reduction on adjacent joints.

Main Methods:

• Subject-specific musculoskeletal models were used for four participants.
• Muscle recruitment strategies were computed to minimize hip, knee, and ankle contact forces.
• Contact forces in other joints were predicted based on these strategies.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in peak force and impulse were observed at the knee and hip.
• Minimal load reduction was found at the ankle joint.
• Increased peak force and impulse occurred in non-targeted joints when adjacent joint loads were minimized.

Conclusions:

• Alternative muscle recruitment strategies show potential for reducing knee and hip loading.
• This approach is less effective for the ankle joint.
• Careful consideration is needed for patients with multiple affected joints due to potential adverse effects on non-targeted joints.