Walking in the Absence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament: The Role of the Quadriceps and Hamstrings

Background. Stair climbing is often performed by people in daily life and requires considerable energy and muscle effort. This task has been widely described in the literature, but the role of the knee joint ligaments has not been sufficiently investigated. This could be relevant for planning ligament reconstruction surgery, for providing suggestions to subjects with partial ligament injuries, and for identifying compensatory strategies for reducing ligament loads. Methods. A dynamic musculoskeletal model was used to analyse the relationship between ligament loads and muscle forces during stair climbing. Results. The most loaded ligaments were the posterior cruciate ligament and the deep fibres of the medial collateral ligament, particularly during the mid-swing phase, where the knee was maximally flexed and the hamstring muscles contracted. The anterior cruciate ligament was recruited during the stance phase to compensate for the anteriorly-directed force applied to the tibia by the vasti muscles; the collateral ligaments stabilized the knee joint during the swing phase. The tibiofemoral contact force, resulting from all external and internal forces applied to the knee, was in good agreement with data provided in the literature. Conclusions. This study represents a forward step in the knowledge of ligament loads during stair climbing, which could be useful for providing informed recommendations to subjects with ligament injuries.

show abstract

“…The details of the whole biomechanical model can be found in previous publications [25,30,32,33]. Here we report the main features of the model:…”

Section: The Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loads on the Knee Joint Ligaments during Stair Climbing

2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The identification of gait pattern abnormalities can help detect functional limitations and their possible causes, so that specific treatment interventions and rehabilitation protocols can be defined. This applies to both the clinical and orthopaedic environment, as well as the sports science fields [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forward and Backward Walking: Multifactorial Characterization of Gait Parameters

Donno

Monoli

Frigo

et al. 2023

Sensors

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although extensive literature exists on forward and backward walking, a comprehensive assessment of gait parameters on a wide and homogenous population is missing. Thus, the purpose of this study is to analyse the differences between the two gait typologies on a relatively large sample. Twenty-four healthy young adults participated in this study. By means of a marker-based optoelectronic system and force platforms, differences between forward and backward walking were outlined in terms of kinematics and kinetics. Statistically, significant differences were observed in most of the spatial–temporal parameters, evidencing some adaptation mechanisms in backward walking. Differently from the ankle joint, the hip and knee range of motion was significantly reduced when switching from forward to backward walking. In terms of kinetics, hip and ankle moment patterns for forward and backward walking were approximately mirrored images of each other. Moreover, joint powers appeared drastically reduced during reversed gait. Specifically, valuable differences in terms of produced and absorbed joint powers between forward and backward walking were pointed out. The outcomes of this study could represent a useful reference data for future investigation evaluating the efficacy of backward walking as a rehabilitation tool for pathological subjects.

show abstract

“…Musculoskeletal models have proven to be fundamental tools for improving our understanding of the musculoskeletal system and related pathological conditions [21,22]. For example, in a previous study [23], the effects on knee joint kinematics and internal load distribution produced by removal of the ACL were simulated with reference to the walking cycle. In that study it was also possible to investigate the effects of different muscle contractions, the compensatory role of quadriceps and hamstrings in particular.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Walking with a Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Musculoskeletal Model Study

Donno,

Galluzzo,

Pascale

et al. 2023

Bioengineering

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The understanding of the changes induced in the knee’s kinematics by a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury is still rather incomplete. This computational study aimed to analyze how the internal loads are redistributed among the remaining ligaments when the PCL is lesioned at different degrees and to understand if there is a possibility to compensate for a PCL lesion by changing the hamstring’s contraction in the second half of the swing phase. A musculoskeletal model of the knee joint was used for simulating a progressive PCL injury by gradually reducing the ligament stiffness. Then, in the model with a PCL residual stiffness at 15%, further dynamic simulations of walking were performed by progressively reducing the hamstring’s force. In each condition, the ligaments tension, contact force and knee kinematics were analyzed. In the simulated PCL-injured knee, the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) became the main passive stabilizer of the tibial posterior translation, with synergistic recruitment of the Lateral Collateral Ligament. This resulted in an enhancement of the tibial–femoral contact force with respect to the intact knee. The reduction in the hamstring’s force limited the tibial posterior sliding and, consequently, the tension of the ligaments compensating for PCL injury decreased, as did the tibiofemoral contact force. This study does not pretend to represent any specific population, since our musculoskeletal model represents a single subject. However, the implemented model could allow the non-invasive estimation of load redistribution in cases of PCL injury. Understanding the changes in the knee joint biomechanics could help clinicians to restore patients’ joint stability and prevent joint degeneration.

show abstract

Walking in the Absence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament: The Role of the Quadriceps and Hamstrings

Cited by 5 publications

References 26 publications

Loads on the Knee Joint Ligaments during Stair Climbing

Loads on the Knee Joint Ligaments during Stair Climbing

Forward and Backward Walking: Multifactorial Characterization of Gait Parameters

Walking with a Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Musculoskeletal Model Study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About