Gait analysis among patients with quadriceps weakness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction post 9 months

Abstract

Background: One of the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries in young adults is anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage. Following ACL reconstruction, there have been reports of changes in the lower extremity joints' kinematics and kinetics, including decreased knee ROM during the stance and swing phases of walking and weakened knee joint flexor and extensor muscles.

Objective: To analyze the gait parameter among patients with Quadriceps weakness after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) post 9 months.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 143 soccer players with age range of 18-39 years, who had unilateral ACL rupture managed through arthroscopic-assisted ACLR Endo-button procedure post 9 months. Written informed consent from the participants was taken before data collection. Observational gait analysis (OGA) with 66 check-off option is used to identify the gait deviations among the patients.

Results: In ankle during the weight acceptance phase, inadequate dorsiflexion (36.4%) and plantar flexion (23.8%) were reported; during single limb support, early heel off was (4.2%) and inadequate dorsiflexion (44.1%) and during single limb advancement, toe drag was (18.2%) and inadequate dorsiflexion (65%). In knee during the weight acceptance phase, inadequate extension (59.4%) and flexion (16.1%) were reported; during single limb support.

Conclusion: OGA revealed gait deviations as inadequate dorsiflexion, inadequate extension, and inadequate flexion due to eccentric loss of quadriceps widely after ACL reconstruction post 9 months.