Patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joint loading during a single‐leg forward hop following ACL reconstruction. Issue 1 (30th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sritharan, Prasanna; Schache, Anthony G.; Culvenor, Adam G.; Perraton, Luke G.; Bryant, Adam L.; Morris, Hayden G.; Whitehead, Timothy S.; Crossley, Kay M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of orthopaedic research. Volume 40:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2021-04-30
• Subjects: ACL injury -- contact force -- knee osteoarthritis -- musculoskeletal modelling -- posttraumatic; Orthopedics -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal system -- Periodicals; 616.7
• DOI: 10.1002/jor.25053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-0266

Abstract

Abstract: Altered biomechanics are frequently observed following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Yet, little is known about knee‐joint loading, particularly in the patellofemoral‐joint, despite patellofemoral‐joint osteoarthritis commonly occurring post‐ACLR. This study compared knee‐joint reaction forces and impulses during the landing phase of a single‐leg forward hop in the reconstructed knee of people 12‐24 months post‐ACLR and uninjured controls. Experimental marker data and ground forces for 66 participants with ACLR (28 ± 6 years, 78 ± 15 kg) and 33 uninjured controls (26 ± 5 years, 70 ± 12 kg) were input into scaled‐generic musculoskeletal models to calculate joint angles, joint moments, muscle forces, and the knee‐joint reaction forces and impulses. The ACLR group exhibited a lower peak knee flexion angle (mean difference: −6°; 95% confidence interval: [−10°, −2°]), internal knee extension moment (−3.63 [−5.29, −1.97] percentage of body weight × participant height (body weight [BW] × HT), external knee adduction moment (‐1.36 [−2.16, −0.56]% BW × HT) and quadriceps force (−2.02 [−2.95, −1.09] BW). The ACLR group also exhibited a lower peak patellofemoral‐joint compressive force (−2.24 [−3.31, −1.18] BW), net tibiofemoral‐joint compressive force (−0.74 [−1.20, 0.28] BW), and medial compartment force (−0.76 [−1.08, −0.44] BW). Finally, only the impulse of the patellofemoral‐joint compressive force was lower in the ACLR group (−0.13 [−0.23, −0.03] body weight‐seconds). Lower compressive forces are evident in the patellofemoral‐ and tibiofemoral‐joints of ACLR knees compared to uninjured controls during a single‐leg forward hop‐landing task. Our findings may have implications for understanding the contributing factors for incidence and progression of knee osteoarthritis after ACLR surgery.