Gait and muscle strength characteristics in total knee arthroplasty patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome before and six months after surgery

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the gait and muscle strength characteristics in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) before and six months after surgery. Eight patients (4 men and 4 women) aged 58–77 years with PFPS following unilateral TKA who had primary degenerative knee OA participated in the study before and six months after reoperation.In patients was registered the active range of motion (AROM) of knee extension and flexion, hip abduction and adduction. Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (IMVC) force of knee flexors, extensors, abductors and adductors was measured and gait kinematic characteristics and kinetic characteristics of knee joint were recorded. Knee flexion AROM in the involved leg was significantly lower (p<0.05) as compared to the uninvolved leg pre- and post-surgery. The patients had greater (p<0.05) hip abduction AROM and significant increase (31%, p<0.05) of IMVC force of the involved legʼs hip abductors postoperatively as compared before surgery. Six months after surgery 38 H. Gapeyeva et al. a significant (p<0.05) improvement of gait spatiotemporal characteristics (increase of swing time and stride length (p<0.05), together with decrease of stance time and cadence, as well increase of stride length) was noted in the involved leg. In TKA patients 6 months after reoperation due to PFPS the knee joint function in involved leg was significantly improved and the positive changes in gait with comfortablevelocity took place as compared before surgery.