Gait Characteristics and Intersegmental Foot and Ankle Motion in Patients With Neglected Achilles Tendon Rupture

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Neglected Achilles tendon rupture leads to persistent weakness and gait abnormalities.
• Detailed intersegmental foot and ankle biomechanics in these patients remain undercharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively evaluate temporospatial, kinematic, and kinetic gait alterations in patients with neglected Achilles tendon rupture.
• To compare gait parameters between patients with neglected Achilles tendon rupture and healthy controls using a multi-segment foot model.

Main Methods:

• Thirteen patients with neglected Achilles tendon rupture were compared with 26 propensity score-matched healthy participants.
• Intersegmental foot and ankle kinematics were calculated using the DuPont foot model.
• Temporospatial parameters, ankle kinetics (plantarflexion moment, ankle power), and sagittal/coronal plane motions were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Patients exhibited slower walking, shorter strides, wider step width, and increased stance phase proportion.
• Reduced hallux dorsiflexion and hindfoot plantarflexion were observed during terminal stance.
• Decreased hallux sagittal range of motion, reduced forefoot/hindfoot range of motion in the coronal plane, and lower ankle power/plantarflexion moment were found.

Conclusions:

• Neglected Achilles tendon rupture results in measurable functional deficits affecting gait biomechanics.
• Findings underscore the clinical importance of recognizing and treating neglected Achilles tendon rupture to address these functional impairments.