Use of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters to Determine Return to Sports After Acl Reconstruction

Abstract

Objective: To compare gait spatiotemporal parameters of healthy and ACL reconstructed subjects in order to classify the status of gait normality. Methods: Fourteen healthy subjects and eight patients submitted to ACL reconstruction walked along a walkway while the lower limbs movement was captured by an infrared camera system. The frames where the initial contact and toe-off took place were determined and the following dependent variables, which were compared between groups through the Mann-Whitney test (a=0.05) were calculated: percentage of time in initial double stance, percentage of time in single stance, percentage of time in terminal double stance, stride length and gait velocity. Initially, all variables were compared between groups using a Mann-Whitney test. A logistic regression was applied, including all dependent variables, to create a model that could differentiate healthy and ACL reconstructed subjects. Results: ACL reconstructed group showed no differences in any spatiotemporal parameter of gait (p > 0.05) in relation to the control group, although the angular kinematic differences of the knee remained altered, as evidenced in a study with a similar sample. Conclusion: The regression classified all subjects as healthy, including the ACL reconstructed group, suggesting the spatiotemporal variables should not be used as the sole criterion of return to sports activities at the same level as prior to injury. Level of Evidence III, Case Control Study.

Knee Joint Biomechanical Gait Data Classification for Knee Pathology Assessment: A Literature Review

“…Moreover, such parameters are not specific enough to reliably detect the subtle biomechanical differences involved in knee OA [79]. It has also been demonstrated that spatiotemporal variables are not good parameters to differentiate knee gait biomechanics of the ACL-R subjects from the healthy ones and should not be used as criteria to determine the return to sports after ACL-R, since the ACL-R group did not show differences in spatiotemporal gait parameters related to a control group [80]. Consequently, gait investigations for knee OA understanding were mostly based on three-dimensional kinetic and kinematic patterns.…”

Gait Classification Using Mahalanobis–Taguchi System for Health Monitoring Systems Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

“…Sci. 2019, 9, 3306 3 of 18 low-cost equipment [2]. Therefore, we aim to develop a predictive technique for ACLR diagnosis based on the spatiotemporal parameters of ACLR groups and to classify the status of normality [19,22,24,38].…”

“…According to Kuo and Donelan, modifications in stance time may result in increased mechanical function and, therefore, greater energy consumption during walking [58]. For example, a decline in a single limb's stance time may result in a heightened contralateral limb swing speed, which will decrease the effect produced by initial contact [2]. Hence, this strategy raises energy expenditure [2].…”

“…For example, a decline in a single limb's stance time may result in a heightened contralateral limb swing speed, which will decrease the effect produced by initial contact [2]. Hence, this strategy raises energy expenditure [2]. Therefore, the analysis of stance time is essential as an indicator of subjects' energy expenditure.…”

“…The most frequently executed orthopaedic surgery is anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) [1,2]. Modern ACLR techniques allow steady ligament reconstruction in nearly all cases; however, the outcome of ACLR rehabilitation is not uniformly excellent [3].…”