Article

This study aimed to objectively evaluate changes in gait kinematics, kinetics and
symmetry among anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed athletes during
rehabilitation. Twenty-two national athletes with ACL reconstruction and 15
healthy athletes were recruited for the study. Gait data were collected between
the weeks 4-5, 8-9, and 12-13 post-operation using three-dimensional motion
analysis system. Five separate components, including knee range of motion (ROM),
vertical ground reaction force (VGRF), their symmetries and knee extension moment
were evaluated. One way and repeated measure multivariate analysis of variance
(MANOVA) were used to analyze the knee ROMs. The VGRF and extension moment were
tested using repeated measure ANOVA and independent sample t-test. Findings
indicated significant alterations in all measured components between patients'
Test 1 and control group. Repeated measure analysis revealed significant effect
for time in components of knee angular and VGRF (P<0.001), their symmetry index
(P=0.03) and knee extension moment (P=0.045). Univariate outcomes demonstrated
significant improvement in the injured limb's stance and swing (P<0.001), and
single-stance (P=0.005) ROMs over time. Symmetry indexes of stance and swing ROM,
and VGRF reduced significantly by 26.3% (P=0.001), 17.9% (P<0.001), and 31.9%
(P=0.03) respectively. After three months, symmetry indexes of single-stance ROM
and VGRF along with operated knee extension moment were the only variables which
showed significant differences with control group. The rehabilitation program
allowed national athletes to restore the operated limb's gait parameters except
knee extension moment by 12-13 weeks post-reconstruction; however, more time is
required to normalize single-stance ROM and VGRF asymmetries.
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Langue : ANGLAIS