Comparison of the Vertical and Horizontal Components of the Ground Reaction Force of Patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Healthy Individuals during Walking

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this research was to compare the vertical, medial-lateral and anterior-posterior components of ground reaction force after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the healthy individuals during walking.
 Methods: This was an analytic cross sectional research. The participants of this research included 46 football and volleyball athletes, who were divided into two groups of individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and healthy individuals. A force plate was employed to evaluate the components of the ground reaction force while walking.The data were statistically analysed using independent t test and SPSS version 16 software.
 Results: The results related to the vertical component of ground reaction force showed that the participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction applied more force to the ground during heel strike and toe-off compared to healthy individuals, although the difference between the two groups was not significant (p=0.09 and p=0.35), but this difference was greater during heel strike. Likewise, the results related to the horizontal components of the ground reaction force showed that participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction applied more force to the ground in all horizontal components of the ground reaction force, but the biggest difference between the two groups was in the first 20% of the stance phase and in the posterior (p<0.007) and lateral (p<0.02) directions. This difference between the two groups was significant.
 Conclusion: The results of the research showed that the most important difference between the two groups occurred in the first 20% of the stance phase. Although among the 6 measured components, only the posterior (p < 0.007) and medial (p < 0.02) ground force components were significant.