Calculating and interpreting joint moments using marker position and ground reaction force (GRF) data is a fundamental part of gait biomechanics research. Due to noise in marker positions, these data are low-pass filtered prior to performing inverse dynamics. Traditionally, kinematic data are filtered at low cutoff frequencies (~6 Hz) and kinetic data are filtered at high frequencies (~30-100 Hz). This technique can result in joint moment impact peaks, particularly during high-impact movements. Filtering marker and GRF data at the same cutoff frequency has been suggested to attenuate these impact artefacts. The effect of various filtering approaches on joint moments in walking is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of low-pass filtering cutoff frequencies on joint moments during walking. We hypothesized that filtering would not affect peak joint moments during walking due to smaller violations of the rigid body assumption compared to high-impact movements. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected for twenty-four health adults walking at self-selected speed. Marker position and GRF were smoothed using a 4th-order dual-pass Butterworth filter with cutoff frequencies of 6/45 Hz, 6/6 Hz, 10/10 Hz, for markers and GRF, respectively. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA tested for the effect of filter frequency on peak hip and knee joint moments. Peak hip and knee moments were greater when filtered at 10/10 Hz compared to 6/45 Hz. Although there were differences between cutoff frequency conditions, the effect sizes were small, suggesting that the differences are not large enough to have a meaningful effect.
Listed In: Biomechanics

The purpose of the study was to determine whether increasing trunk flexion (TF) and whole body inclination (WBI) angles influences peak knee, hip, and trunk kinematics and kinetics during running. Nineteen participants ran over ground at a self-selected speed under three postures: self-selected normal (SSN), TF, and WBI. Analyses revealed significant differences between conditions for peak knee, hip, and trunk flexion angles and peak knee and hip extension moments. Both TF and WBI postures are effective strategies for reducing peak knee extension moments during running with more load distributed to the hips. This may reduce PFJ stress and therefore aid in knee injury prevention and management. Individual preference of either altered running posture should be utilized in a clinical setting.
Listed In: Biomechanics

Nucleotomy is a surgical procedure following herniation and also simulates the reduced nucleus pulpousus (NP) pressure that occurs with disc degeneration. Internal disc strains are an important factor in disc function, yet it is unclear how internal strains are affected by nucleotomy. Grade II L3-L4 human cadaveric discs (n=6) were analyzed intact and after a partial nucleotomy that removed 30-50% of the NP through a left posterolateral incision (incision) while the contralateral side remained intact (uninjured). Two cycles of stress-relaxation testing were performed for reference (50N) and loaded (0.70MPa) configurations. After each 8hour equilibration period, the reference and loaded discs were imaged separately in a 7T MRI scanner (0.3mm isotropic resolution). The reference and loaded images were registered to calculate internal strain within the annulus fibrosus (AF) lamellae and discs were averaged to create anatomical templates. Circumferential, radial, and axial strains for each disc were transformed to the average templates, effectively normalizing the strains. Five circumferential regions were defined within the mid-third of the templates. Nucleotomy altered disc strains on both the incision and uninjured sides from the intact state. Strain fields were inhomogeneous through the five regions. Mean circumferential strain was unaffected by nucleotomy on the uninjured side, but decreased with incision, showing hoop strains through the AF were disrupted. Mean compressive axial strains were higher after nucleotomy, effectively reducing AF stiffness, and mean radial strains were unaltered after partial nucleotomy. These findings are important to address etiology and progression of degeneration, and to develop and evaluate therapeutic interventions.
Listed In: Biomechanical Engineering, Biomechanics, Orthopedic Research

Asymmetries in discrete measures following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) during landing have been reported to be risk factors for secondary ACL injuries. Our purpose was to examine the impact of functional brace wear on kinematic and kinetic inter-limb movement symmetry during landing in ACL-R patients. 20 adolescent athletes (15.8 ± 1.2 years) (7 male, 13 female) 6 months following ACL reconstruction performed 5 trials of a stop-jump task in both a braced (B) and non-braced (NB) condition, with the first landing being analyzed. A custom fit functional knee brace (DJO, Vista, CA) was worn on the ACL reconstructed limb (AL) during the B trials. Mean curves were created for each limb (AL and unaffected limb (UL)) for the vertical (vGRF) and anterior-posterior ground reaction forces (apGRF) and frontal and sagittal knee angles and moments. Coefficients of multiple determination (CMD) between the AL and UL curves were compared between B and NB conditions with students’ t-tests (p≤0.05). No significant differences existed for movement and loading symmetry between B and NB conditions among all subjects. Secondary analysis revealed significant differences in apGRF (p=0.014), vGRF (p=0.011) and sagittal knee angles (p=0.003) in subjects with improved sagittal knee angle symmetry in the B condition. The data show that brace wear improves loading symmetry in adolescent patients that also exhibit improved sagittal knee angle symmetry while braced 6 months following ACL-R. Identifying factors that affect inter-limb movement and loading response to brace wear could assist in determining each patient’s need for a brace.

Listed In: Biomechanics, Sports Science

Gait Mechanics Depend Upon Quadriceps Central Activation Ratio in an Anterior Knee Pain Cohort Son SJ*, Kim HS†, Wiseman B‡, Seeley MK*, Hopkins JT*: *Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, †West Chester University, West Chester, PA, ‡West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. Context: Quadriceps deficits are often present in an anterior knee pain (AKP) population. However, common self-reported classification tools including Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Kujala Anterior Knee Pain (KAKP), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Tegner Activity Level (TAL) scores, and/or other subject inclusion criteria may not be sensitive enough to identify specific movement characteristics in patients with AKP. Quadriceps central activation ratio (CAR) may help to discriminate movement characteristics in patients with AKP. Objective: To examine gait mechanics between two subdivisions of AKP patients, separated by quadriceps function (CAR < 0.95 and CAR > 0.95). AKP patients were defined by VAS, KAKP, TSK, and TAL scores. Design: Cohort. Setting: Controlled laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: 30 (M=16, F=14; 22.3±3 yrs, 175±9 cm, 72.5±14 kg) AKP patients participated: 15 Quadriceps Deficit (QD: CAR = 0.91±0.04, VAS = 3.87±1.3, KAKP = 82.9±6.6, TSK = 37.9±4.7, TAL = 6.3±1.2) and 15 Quadriceps Functional (QF: CAR = 0.97±0.01, VAS = 3.93±0.7, KAKP = 79.3±7.9, TSK = 36.9±5.2, TAL = 6.8±1.4). Interventions: Subjects performed three quadriceps maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) for 3 sec on a Biodex dynamometer (100 Hz). When MVC torque plateaued 1.5-2 sec later, a superimposed burst was transmitted to two electrodes placed on their quadriceps to measure CAR. Two successful trials were averaged for data analysis. Subjects performed five gait trials at a self-selected walking speed. Gait data were collected using high-speed video (240 Hz) and a force plate (1200 Hz). A functional analysis was used to detect mean between-group differences in gait mechanics during the entire stance phase (0-17% = loading response, 18-50% = mid-stance, 51-83% = terminal stance, and 84-100% = pre-swing). This analysis allowed us to compare variables as polynomial functions rather than discrete values. If 95% confidence intervals did not overlap zero, significant differences existed between groups (p < 0.05). Main Outcome Measures: Sagittal-plane knee joint angle (˚), internal knee joint torque (N∙m), and vertical ground reaction force (VGRF; N/kg). Results: Relative to QF patients, QD patients demonstrated (i) decreased knee flexion angle at 4-90% of stance, (ii) reduced internal knee extension torque at 14-32% of stance, and (iii) reduced VGRF at 19-37% of stance and increased VGRF at 46-70% of stance (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The present data suggest that relative to QF patients, QD patients adopt quadriceps weakness gait mechanics that have been reported in individuals with knee osteoarthritis, ACL reconstruction, and effused knee joints. These alterations may create long-term compensatory gait patterns at the knee and adjacent ankle and hip joints, which may lead to mechanical and biological changes in knee articular cartilage. Future research is needed to examine a potential relationship between these gait alterations and articular cartilage health over the long-term.
Listed In: Biomechanics, Gait