Comparing Sagittal-Plane Biomechanics of Drop Jump Landing in Athletes With and Without Knee Osteoarthritis 2-Year Post-Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

The study aimed to determine differences in sagittal-plane joint biomechanics between athletes with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA) during drop vertical jump 2 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Forty-one athletes with ACLR completed motion analysis testing during drop vertical jump from 30 cm. Sagittal-plane peak joint angles and moments and joint contributions to total support moment (TSM) were calculated during first landing. Medial compartment knee OA of the reconstructed knee was evaluated using Kellgren-Lawrence scores (ACLR group: Kellgren-Lawrence <2; ACLR-OA group: Kellgren-Lawrence ≥2). The ACLR-OA group (n = 13) had higher hip and lower knee contributions in the surgical limb than the ACLR group and their nonsurgical limb. Further, the ACLR-OA group had higher peak hip extension moment than the ACLR group (P = .024). The ACLR-OA group had significantly lower peak knee extension and ankle plantar flexion moments and TSM (P ≤ .032) than ACLR group. The ACLR-OA group landed with increased hip extension moment, decreased knee extension and ankle plantar flexion moments and TSM, and decreased knee and increased hip contributions to TSM compared with ACLR group. The ACLR-OA group may have adopted movement patterns to decrease knee load and compensated by shifting the load to the hip. Clinicians may incorporate tailored rehabilitation programs that mitigate the decreased knee load to minimize the risk of knee OA after ACLR.

Sit-To-Stand Biomechanics Before and After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in movement patterns during a sit-to-stand (STS) task before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA), and to compare biomechanical outcomes after THA to a control group. Forty-five subjects who underwent THA and twenty-three healthy control subjects participated in three-dimensional motion analysis. Pre-operatively, subjects exhibited inter-limb movement asymmetries with lower vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and smaller moments on the operated limb. Although there were significant improvements in movement symmetry 3 months after THA, patients continued to demonstrate lower VGRF and smaller moments on the operated limb compared to non-operated and to control limbs. Future studies should identify the contributions of physical impairments and the influence of surgical approach on STS biomechanics.

Joint contributions to sagittal plane total support moment in patients with knee osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) demonstrate lower knee loading. This study aimed to determine whether sagittal plane TSM and joint contributions to total support moment (TSM) in the surgical limb are different between athletes who did and did not show radiological features of knee OA at 2 years after ACLR during triple hops (TH), single hop (TH), single-legged vertical jump (VJ), and walking. METHODS: Forty-one athletes with 2 years of unilateral ACLR surgery participated in this cross-sectional study. Athletes completed motion analysis testing of single-legged TH, SH, VJ, and walking tasks. Sagittal plane TSM and individual joint (ankle, knee, and hip) contributions to TSM were computed at peak knee flexion angle (TSM-PKF). Posterior-anterior radiographs were completed in standing and 30° knee flexion. Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) system was used to identify radiological features of knee OA in the medial compartment of the reconstructed knee (OA-group: KL ≥2; Non-OA group: KL<2). RESULTS: There was a significant group-by-joint-by-task interaction for joint contributions to TSM-PKF (p = 0.012), with the OA-group (n = 13) had lower knee and higher hip contributions compared to the non-OA group during TH, SH, and VJ (p ≤ 0.049). There was a significant joint-by-group interaction for the joint contributions to TSM-PKF (p = 0.004), with the OA-group having lower knee (p = 0.003) and higher hip (p = 0.001) contributions compared to the Non-OA group. SIGNIFICANCE: The OA-group exhibited lower knee and higher hip contributions to the sagittal plane TSM compared to the Non-OA group during the landing phase of single-limb high-demand activities. The OA-group exhibited decreased knee loading and compensated by shifting the mechanical load to the hip joint within the reconstructed knee. Decreased knee loading in the OA-group may have affected the required mechanical loading to maintain knee metabolism and integrity.