Article

Quadriceps avoidance and higher flexion strategies have been assumed as effects
of ACL deficiency on knee joint function during gait. However, the effect of ACL
deficiency on anteroposterior stability of the knee during gait is not well
defined. In this study, 10 patients with unilateral acute ACL ruptures and the
contralateral side intact performed gait on a treadmill. Flexion angles and
anteroposterior translation of the ACL injured and the intact controlateral knees
were measured at every 10% of the stance phase of the gait (from heel strike to
toe-off) using a combined MRI and dual fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS). The
data indicated that during the stance phase of the gait, the ACL-deficient knees
showed higher flexion angles compared to the intact contralateral side,
consistent with the assumption of a higher flexion gait strategy. However, the
data also revealed that the ACL-deficient knees had higher anterior tibial
translation compared to the intact contralateral side during the stance phase of
the gait. The higher flexion gait strategy was not shown to correlate to a
reduction of the anterior tibial translation in ACL deficient knees. These data
may provide indications for conservative treatment or surgical reconstruction of
the ACL injured knees in restoration of the knee kinematics during daily walking
activities.
CI - Copyright A(c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS