Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
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To quantify normal, in vivo tibio-femoral knee joint kinematics in multiple weight bearing positions using non-invasive, high-resolution MRI and discuss the potential of developing future kinematic methods to assess patients with abnormal joint pathologies. ⋯ Results correlate with previous studies of knee kinematics while providing greater three-dimensional detail. MR imaging allows excellent non-invasive evaluation of knee joint kinematics with weight bearing. This tool may potentially be used for assessing knee kinematics in patients with knee pathology.
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Reduced knee flexion is a logical gait adaptation for individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) to lessen the patellofemoral joint reaction force and minimise pain during stair ambulation. This gait adaptation may be related to the co-ordination of individual vasti components. ⋯ These results indicate that the amount of stance-phase knee flexion is lower in individuals with PFP and that this may be related to onset timing of the vasti.
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This study tested if abnormal sagittal knee joint loading patterns after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were present pre-surgery, and if patterns with higher external knee flexion moments were related to the presence and severity of post-surgery anterior knee pain. Gait analysis and clinical evaluation were performed on 34 patients (41 arthroplasties) both before and 12-18 months after TKA, and on 20 healthy age-matched controls at matched velocities. ⋯ Knee joint loading in the early mid-stance phase of walking prior to surgery was identified by stepwise regression as a significant predictor of the presence (exp(beta)=2.9, CI: 1.2-6.8, p=0.017) and severity of post-surgery anterior knee pain (R2=0.314, p=0.019). Therefore, the frequency and severity of anterior knee pain after TKA can be partially explained by retained pre-surgery gait patterns that had higher external flexion moments in the early mid-stance phase, which place higher forces on the patellofemoral joint.