Background: Knee osteoarthritis is common in people who have undergone partial meniscectomy, and a higher external knee flexion moment during gait may be a potential contributor. Although the peak external knee flexion moment has been shown to increase from 3 months to 2 years following partial meniscectomy, mechanisms underpinning the increase in the peak knee flexion moment are unknown.
Methods: Sixty-six participants with partial meniscectomy completed three-dimensional gait (normal and fast pace) and quadriceps strength assessment at baseline (3 months following partial meniscectomy) and again 2 years later. Variables included external knee flexion moment, vertical ground reaction force, knee flexion kinematics, and quadriceps peak torque.
Findings: For normal pace walking, the main significant predictors of change in peak knee flexion moment were an increase in peak vertical ground reaction force (R(2)=0.55), mostly due to an increase in walking speed, and increase in peak knee flexion angle (R(2)=0.19). For fast pace walking, the main significant predictors of change in peak knee flexion moment were an in increase in peak vertical ground reaction force (R(2)=0.51) and increase in knee flexion angle at initial contact (R(2)=0.17). Change in peak vertical force was mostly due to an increase in walking speed.
Interpretation: Findings suggest that increases in vertical ground reaction force and peak knee flexion angle during stance are predominant contributors to the 2-year change in peak knee flexion moment. Future studies are necessary to refine our understanding of joint loading and its determinants following meniscectomy.
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