Article

Kinematic and kinetic analyses are routinely implemented to determine if gait
differences exist between runners with and without a history of knee injury. Hip
and knee kinematic differences have been reported between knee injured and
non-injured runners. Yet, there is no consensus on whether these differences are
the primary variables contributing to knee injury. Furthermore, there may be
additional underlying factors that contribute to the development of injury that
cannot be determined by gait analysis. The purpose of this investigation was to
determine if joint position sense differences exist in runners with and without a
history of knee overuse injury. Sagittal plane knee and hip joint position sense
was measured in 13 runners with a history of knee overuse injury and 13 runners
with no history of knee overuse injury. Absolute joint position replication error
was measured during both a weight bearing and a non-weight bearing condition.
Joint position replication errors at each joint were compared among groups and
task using a two-way ANOVA with joint task as the repeated measure. Knee and hip
joint replication errors were similar between both groups. The weight bearing and
non-weight bearing tasks resulted in similar joint position replication errors.
There were no interaction effects. In conclusion, knee flexion and hip adduction
joint position sense is similar in runners with and without a history of knee
overuse injury. Therefore, joint position sense measured via weight bearing and
non-weight bearing joint position replication tasks may not play an important
role in the development of knee overuse injury.
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