Knee Joint Motion Research Articles

Comparison of knee injury of basketball players with different pro—hop modes in kinematic perspective: time period, factor and intervention

Rapid movement techniques in basketball are prone to acute and chronic injuries to the cruciate ligament and internal knee joint movements. This study analyses the biomechanical changes of the non-axial foot after different pro-hop braking from kinematic and kinetic perspectives, in order to provide input to the teaching, intervention and competitive training of basketball pro-hop in basketball. Kistler force measurement, Vicon Motion 3D motion capture and Biovision EMG were used to describe the kinematic and kinetic parameters such as the angle of the knee joint, joint moment, angle at maximum moment and the co-contraction ratio of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris muscles during the landing phase of the non-axial foot after pro-hop and braking in three different pro-hop patterns of female basketball players. The study found that,(1) The pro-hop followed by the non-axial foot initiation technique in basketball movement is prone to knee cruciate ligament injuries, mostly occurring in the first 20% of the landing phase. (2) The angle of the knee joint during the non-axial foot landing phase, the joint moment, the angle at maximum moment, and the co-contraction ratio of the rectus femoris to the biceps femoris muscle govern the risk of non-axial foot initiation injury at the end of the pro-hop. (3) The mechanical load on the knee joint during the non-axial foot landing phase of the one foot pro-hop. (4) The co-contraction ratios of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris were significantly different between the in situ, one foot and double-leg pro-hop. Conclusions, (1) The first 20% of the non-axial foot activation phase after one foot pro-hop is more likely to lead to cruciate ligament and other knee injuries, significantly different from the in-situ and double-leg pro-hop patterns. (2) The lower co-contraction ratio of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris provides protection, support and activation of many peripheral knee muscle groups, partially reducing energy expenditure and improving the quality of movement completion. (3) The training load, injury severity, and The weight and angle of the non-axial foot in different modes of pro-hop and braking can be adjusted to allow for active rest and dynamic compensation of the knee joint under load and movement.

추나 요법을 포함한 복합 한방치료를 이용한 오스굿-슐라터 병의 치료 증례보고

Objectives This case study aimed to investigate the effect of complex Korean medicine therapy and fascia Chuna therapy on Osgood-Schlatter disease. Methods Hospitalization treatment was performed on a 13-year-old Osgood-Schlatter patient who visited Woosuk University Korean Medicine Hospital. The patient complained of pain in both the tibial tuberosity and restriction on the range of knee joint movement. The results were evaluated using the visual analogue scale, knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score, and range of motion. Results After treatment, knee pain decreased and range of movement angle improved. Conclusions This study suggests that complex Korean medicine therapy, including myofascial Chuna therapy, are effective in improving the range of motion and improving pain in early Osgood-Schlatter disease. The limitation of this study is that the subject of the study was limited to one case. Further clinical studies are required.

Effects of passive interpersonal light touch during walking on postural control responses: An exploratory study

The effects of passive interpersonal light touch (PILT) on postural stability can be observed through improved postural coordination through haptic feedback from the contact provider to the contact receiver while walking. It is unclear, however, whether PILT affects the contact receiver's detailed physical responses, such as muscle activity, body sway, and joint movements. In this study, surface electromyography and an inertial measurement unit were used simultaneously to explore changes in walking speed and control responses induced by PILT. We evaluated fourteen healthy participants for their walking speed and physical responses under two walking conditions: no-touch (NT) and PILT. As a physical response during walking, we measured muscle activity (rectus femoris, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, and soleus muscles), body sway (pelvis and neck), and joint angles (direction of hip, knee, and ankle joint movements). In PILT condition, fingertip contact force was measured while the contact provider touched the third level of the recipient's lumbar spine. In comparison with the NT condition, PILT condition increased walking speed and decreased body sway on neck position. There were significant correlations between walking speed and neck sway regarding NT and PILT change values. Passive haptic information to the contact receiver may assist in the smooth shift of the center of gravity position during gait through interpersonal postural coordination. These findings suggest that PILT may provide an efficient and stable gait.

Effects of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction combined with sodium hyaluronate on knee function and inflammatory markers in anterior cruciate ligament injury patients with or without knee osteoarthritis.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACLI) is a common sports injury of the knee joint, and ACLI patients often develop early knee osteoarthritis (KOA) after surgery. This may be due to the activation of a post-surgical inflammatory response. To investigate the treatment efficacy of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (AACLR) combined with sodium hyaluronate (SH) in ACLI patients with and without KOA. This prospective cohort study included 226 ACLI patients with or without KOA who were admitted between July 2015 and December 2018 into The Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China. All patients received AACLR surgery combined with 50 mg SH. Serum levels of inflammatory markers were evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and knees were assessed using the Lysholm Knee Score and the International Knee Documentation Committee Knee Evaluation Form (IKDC). The range of motion of the knee joint was also measured. The mean disease course was 73.39 ±30.90 months for ACLI patients with KOA, which was significantly longer than for those without KOA (3.74 ±1.70 months). Also, surgery duration was remarkably longer for patients with KOA than it was for those without this disease. The Lysholm Knee Score and IKDC score, as well as the range of knee joint motion were significantly improved in all patients after treatment compared to baseline. However, no significant differences were found between the groups. One day, 3 days and 7 days after surgery, significantly higher inflammatory marker levels were found in the patients with KOA than in those without KOA. The AACLR combined with SH was efficacious as it improved knee function and inflammation in all patients, while patients without KOA exhibited a more rapid recovery from the post-surgical inflammatory response.

Playfully Assessing Lower Extremity Selective Voluntary Motor Control in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Psychometric Study.

Objective measures specifically assessing selective voluntary motor control are scarce. Therefore, we have developed an interval-scaled assessment based on accelerometers. This study provided a preliminary evaluation of the validity and reliability of this novel gamelike assessment measuring lower limb selective voluntary motor control in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Children with CP and their neurologically intact peers were recruited for this psychometric evaluation of the assessgame. The participants played the assessgame and steered an avatar by selective hip, knee, or ankle joint movements captured with accelerometers. The assessgame's scores provide information about the accuracy of the selective movement of the target joint and the amplitude and frequency of involuntary movements occurring in uninvolved joints. We established discriminative validity by comparing the assessgame scores of the children with CP with those of the neurologically intact children, concurrent validity by correlations with clinical scores and therapists' opinions, and relative and absolute test-retest reliability. We included 20 children with CP (mean age 12 years and 5 months, SD 3 years and 4 months; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I to IV) and 31 neurologically intact children (mean age 11 years and 1 month, SD 3 years and 6 months). The assessgame could distinguish between the children with CP and neurologically intact children. The correlations between the assessgame's involuntary movement score and the therapist's rating of the occurrence of involuntary movements during the game were moderate (Spearman ρ=0.56; P=.01), whereas the correlations of the assessgame outcomes with the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity and Gross Motor Function Classification System were low and not significant (|ρ|≤0.39). The intraclass correlation coefficients were >0.85 and indicated good relative test-retest reliability. Minimal detectable changes amounted to 25% (accuracy) and 44% (involuntary movement score) of the mean total scores. The percentage of children able to improve by the minimal detectable change without reaching the maximum score was 100% (17/17) for the accuracy score and 94% (16/17) for the involuntary movement score. The assessgame proved reliable and showed discriminative validity in this preliminary evaluation. Concurrent validity was moderate with the therapist's opinion but relatively poor with the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity. We assume that the assessment's gamelike character demanded various other motor control aspects that are less considered in current clinical assessments.

Efficacy of Aquatic Therapy and VMO Strengthening in Patellofemoral Arthritis

Background: Arthritis is inflammation of joints which leads to pain and stiffness that worsens with age. Patellofemoral arthritis affects the underside of the patella and the channel-like groove in the femur that the patella rests in. PFPS is an overuse injury in which anterior knee pain is present. The patient with patellofemoral arthritis has kneecap pain, stiffness and often swelling in the front part of the knee that typically worsens when walking on inclined terrain, climbing stairs, squatting. The patients with patellofemoral arthritis have reduced functional ability due to pain. It is important to increase the strength of Vastus Medialis Oblique Muscle which helps in stabilizing the patella during knee joint movements in order to reduce the pain. Aquatic physical therapy is considered as a safe and effective treatment program for managing knee OA as it contribute to the increase in the pain threshold and it also decreases the joint overload and pain symptoms and improves functionality and quality of life. Objective: To compare the effect of aquatic therapy and Vastus Medialis Oblique strengthening on pain and functional ability in patellofemoral arthritis (PFA). Materials and methods: An experimental study was conducted on total of 30 subjects on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria with 15 subjects in group A for VMO strengthening and 15 subjects in group B for aquatic therapy exercise. Outcome measures used were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS). The protocol was conducted for 5 weeks, 3 days a week. Results: A total of 30 patients between the age of 40-65 years were included. Statistically it shows that there was extremely significant difference (p<0.0001) between pre intervention assessment and post intervention assessment. But the subjects treated with aquatic therapy shows more significant difference than the subjects treated with VMO strengthening program. Conclusion: The present study concludes that the aquatic therapy program is more effective than the VMO strengthening program which showed more reduction in pain and increase in functional ability in PFA. KEY WORDS: Patellofemoral arthritis, Patellofemoral pain syndrome, knee pain, VMO strengthening, Aquatic therapy, Visual Analogue Scale, Anterior Knee Pain Scale.

Kinematic Strategies for Sustainable Well-Being in Aging Adults Influenced by Footwear and Ground Surface.

Falls are an inescapable problem influencing the health and threatening the safety of older adults. Exploring the kinematic strategies of aging adults can help reduce the risk of falls. To study kinematic strategies of aging adults in response to footwear (flat shoes, toe spring shoes, rocker sole shoes) and ground surfaces (level ground, grassland and rock road), a 3D motion capture system and subjective stability evaluation, with 14 female participants, were performed. Results indicated that footwear and ground surfaces significantly impacted joint dynamics during walking. Compared with young adults, aging adults tended to adopt a more conservative walking pattern. Wearing different shoes on the three ground surfaces mainly reduced the ROM (range of motion) of the ankle (p < 0.05). By analyzing the objective and subjective results, rocker sole shoes gave aging adults a stronger sense of instability, so they controlled the movement of ankle joint initiatively. When walking on grassland and rock road, aging adults adjusted the movements of hip, knee and ankle joints to maintain gait stability. Aging adults are recommended to strengthen flexibility training of the ankle joint, perform hip adduction and abduction exercises, and wear rocker sole shoes to improve their balance ability and sustainable well-being.

TESTE ISOCINÉTICO DE FORÇA MUSCULAR E TECNOLOGIA DE TREINAMENTO NA MEDICINA ESPORTIVA

ABSTRACT Introduction Current research in sports medicine on muscles adjacent to joints in patients with joint instability focuses on functional instability. However, few studies on muscle strength in the muscles adjacent to the joints in typical patients. Objective This study tests the changes in isokinetic muscle strength in flexion-extension muscle groups in common subjects’ knees and elbows. Methods Randomly selected ordinary citizens to perform isokinetic muscle strength testing with grip strength, explosive pedaling force, and elbow and knee joint movement speeds of 60°/s. Results The single work of the normal knee flexors and extensors decreases with test speed at different movement speeds. Conclusion The grip strength test and isokinetic pedaling test can be used as simple muscle strength tests for fitness monitoring. Evidence Level II; Therapeutic Studies - Investigating the result.

The study of variation of range of motion of knee joint with body mass index in normal, overweight and obese young adults

The incidence of overweight and obesity is increasing at a very rapid rate the world over. The increased body mass has a detrimental effect on the kinesiology of human body which hampers the individual’s day to day activities by affecting the movements of various joints. The present study was undertaken with the aim of correlating the motion at knee joints of both sides with the body mass index of the individual. A total of 235 subjects (108 males and 127 females) were enrolled for the cross-sectional study which was carried out in the Department of Anatomy of Sharda University, Greater Noida. : Analysis by one way ANOVA showed a progressive decrease in the magnitude of knee joint range of motion with a gradual increase in body mass index in three groups of subjects from normal to obese. The results obtained from study supports the importance of weight loss in improving the postural balance and activities of daily living in the overweight and obese individuals.

Bio-inspired design of a self-aligning, lightweight, and highly-compliant cable-driven knee exoskeleton.

Powered knee exoskeletons have shown potential for mobility restoration and power augmentation. However, the benefits of exoskeletons are partially offset by some design challenges that still limit their positive effects on people. Among them, joint misalignment is a critical aspect mostly because the human knee joint movement is not a fixed-axis rotation. In addition, remarkable mass and stiffness are also limitations. Aiming to minimize joint misalignment, this paper proposes a bio-inspired knee exoskeleton with a joint design that mimics the human knee joint. Moreover, to accomplish a lightweight and high compliance design, a high stiffness cable-tension amplification mechanism is leveraged. Simulation results indicate our design can reduce 49.3 and 71.9% maximum total misalignment for walking and deep squatting activities, respectively. Experiments indicate that the exoskeleton has high compliance (0.4 and 0.1 Nm backdrive torque under unpowered and zero-torque modes, respectively), high control bandwidth (44 Hz), and high control accuracy (1.1 Nm root mean square tracking error, corresponding to 7.3% of the peak torque). This work demonstrates performance improvement compared with state-of-the-art exoskeletons.

Estimation of knee joint movement using single-channel sEMG signals with a feature-guided convolutional neural network

Estimating human motion intention, such as intent joint torque and movement, plays a crucial role in assistive robotics for ensuring efficient and safe human-robot interaction. For coupled human-robot systems, surface electromyography (sEMG) signal has been proven as an effective means for estimating human's intended movements. Usually, joint movement estimation uses sEMG signals measured from multiple muscles and needs many sEMG sensors placed on the human body, which may cause discomfort or result in mechanical/signal interference from wearable robots/environment during long-term routine use. Although the muscle synergy principle implies that it is possible to estimate human motion using sEMG signals from even one signal muscle, few studies investigated the feasibility of continuous motion estimation based on single-channel sEMG. In this study, a feature-guided convolutional neural network (FG-CNN) has been proposed to estimate human knee joint movement using single-channel sEMG. In the proposed FG-CNN, several handcrafted features have been fused into a CNN model to guide CNN feature extraction, and both handcrafted and CNN-extracted features were applied to a regression model, i.e., random forest regression, to estimate knee joint movements. Experiments with 8 healthy subjects were carried out, and sEMG signals measured from 6 muscles, i.e., vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, lateral or medial gastrocnemius (LG or MG), were separately evaluated for knee joint estimation using the proposed method. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed FG-CNN method with single-channel sEMG signals from LG or MG can effectively estimate human knee joint movements. The average correlation coefficient between the measured and the estimated knee joint movements is 0.858 ± 0.085 for LG and 0.856 ± 0.057 for MG. Meanwhile, comparative studies showed that the combined handcrafted-CNN features outperform either the handcrafted features or the CNN features; the performance of the proposed signal-channel sEMG-based FG-CNN method is comparable to those of the traditional multi-channel sEMG-based methods. The outcomes of this study enable the possibility of developing a single-channel sEMG-based human-robot interface for knee joint movement estimation, which can facilitate the routine use of assistive robots.

Gait Analysis of Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis and Its Correlation with Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index Assessment.

Background and objectives: Objective, accurate, and intuitive evaluation of knee joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is important. This study aimed to clarify the gait characteristics of patients with bilateral KOA and their correlation with Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Materials and Methods: 20 patients with bilateral KOA and 20 conditionally matched healthy individuals were enrolled in the experimental and control groups, respectively. Footscan and CODA motion gait analysis systems were used to analyse the gait parameters. Gait spatiotemporal parameters and knee joint motion parameters were collected. Weight-bearing balance and walking stability were assessed using discrete trends of relevant gait indicators. Patients in the experimental group were evaluated using WOMAC. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed on the gait data and WOMAC score data of the experimental group. Results: Velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.01). Step time and gait cycle were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group (p < 0.01). Total stance and double-stance times of the experimental group were significantly greater than those of the control group (p < 0.01), whereas the single-stance time was shorter than that of the control group (p < 0.01). The range of motion and maximum flexion angle in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.01), and the minimum angle of knee extension was greater than that in the control group (p < 0.01). The discrete trend of weight-bearing balance and walking stability gait index in the experimental group was greater than that in the control group. The WOMAC score and gait analysis were significantly correlated (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The gait function of patients with KOA is significantly worse than that of normal people. The WOMAC scale and gait analysis can be used to assess KOA severity from different perspectives with good consistency.

In-vivo assessment of meniscal movement in the knee joint during internal and external rotation under load

PurposeThe menisci transmit load between femur and tibia and thus play a crucial role in the functionality of the knee joint. Knee joint movements have a major impact on the position of the menisci. However, these meniscus movements have not yet been assessed in a validated setting. The objective of this study is to evaluate the meniscal movements in MRI with prospective motion correction based on optical tracking under loading via internal and external tibial torques. MethodsThirty-one healthy volunteers were recruited for this study. MRI scans were performed in internal and external rotation induced by a torque of 5 Nm, using a 3 T MRI. A validated software used the generated images to calculate the absolute meniscus movements as the sum of all vectors. Differences between subgroups were analyzed by using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. ResultsThe MM shows an average movement of 1.79 mm in anterior-lateral direction under internal rotation and 6.01 mm in posterior-lateral direction under external rotation, whereas the LM moves an average of 4.55 mm in posterior-medial direction under internal rotation and 3.58 mm in anterior-medial direction under external rotation. When comparing the overall meniscus movements between internal and external rotation, statistically significant differences were found for total vector length and the direction of meniscus movements for medial and lateral meniscus. The comparison between medial and lateral meniscus movements also showed statistically significant differences in all categories for internal and external rotation.ConclusionsOverall, the MM and LM movements in internal and external rotation differ significantly in extent and direction, although MM and LM movements in opposite directions during internal and external rotation can be observed. In internal rotation, most meniscus movements were found in the IHLM. In external rotation, the IHMM showed the greatest mobility. Segment analysis of internal vs. external rotation showed less difference in LM movements than MM.Level of evidenceLevel II.

Effects of dry needling intervention on lower limb dysfunction after stroke: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionLower limb dysfunction is among the common sequelae of patients who had a poststroke and often results in the reduction of the quality of life. This study aims to assess...

CASE REPORT : DIABETIC MYONECROSIS , RARE BUT A SERIOUS COMPLICATION OF UNCONTROLLED DIABETES MELLITUS

Diabetic myonecrosis , is a serious complication of long standing suboptimal glycemic control observed in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It presents with abrupt pain and swelling of the involved extremity. Diagnosis is often delayed because it mimics several other conditions such as cellulitis, deep vein thrombosis(DVT). We present a 41 year old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus with localized , sudden onset left sided thigh pain. The left thigh pain progressively worsened with decreasing range of motion of left hip and knee joint .Diagnostic evaluation was done for this patient which included blood work up and imaging , pointing towards diabetic myonecrosis. Patient underwent fasciotomy for pain control and muscle biopsy for accurate diagnosis . Patient made an uneventful recovery and is under follow up. Myonecrosis is less known microvascular complication of diabetes and should always be kept in mind when evaluating a diabetic patient with muscle pain. The clinical course is self limiting and patients respond well to supportive medical therapy that involves bed rest , glycemic control along with analgesics .

Comparison of outcome following knee immobilization versus no immobilization in the immediate post operative period following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Background: Post operative bracing following ACL reconstruction has been traditionally used in post operative period to reduce pain limit knee range of motion to protect against valgus and varus stress. There is a lack of consensus in published literature regarding knee immobilization. The aim of this study is to compare the functional outcome and pain control in patients using knee immobilizer with those not using them in immediate post operative period.Methods: A total of 60 patients admitted with ACL tear who were admitted from January 2020 to August 2021 were enrolled in this study and randomised into two groups, given knee immobilizer or no immobilizer following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Patients were assessed for pain, knee range of motion and functional outcome with 6-month follow-up.Results: VAS score for pain was significantly lower for knee brace users (p=0.24) on post-op day2 but there was no significant difference on subsequent measurements. Also, the IKDC Score, arc of motion of knee joint and complication rate did not show significant difference between the two groups.Conclusions: Based on this study, the use of a knee brace for improving short term outcome following ACL reconstruction is not justified and adds to the cost of treatment. A short cylindrical back slab for 2-3days can serve the same purpose of controlling pain and soft tissue protection.

Joint Injury of Taijiquan Based on Computer Image Analysis

With people’s attention to physical health and health preservation, more and more people practice Taijiquan to achieve the purpose of physical fitness and self-cultivation. However, many people do not fully understand the principles of Taijiquan in the early stage of practicing Taijiquan, rely on imitation to practice, and ignore the action essentials and characteristics of Taijiquan, resulting in joint pain. At the same time, many beginners ignore the causes of these situations, resulting in joint damage. Therefore, this paper proposes the research on the joint injury of Taijiquan based on computer image analysis and carries out the dependent research and analysis through the joint image processing model based on the improved Robert’s edge detection algorithm. The experimental results show that the action cycle time of wrong action is longer than the total time of correct action due to the increase of action displacement, and the long displacement distance increases the pressure on the knee joint and improves the probability of knee joint damage. In addition, there are obvious differences between wrong action and correct action in knee adduction and abduction, flexion and extension, internal rotation, and external angle. Wrong action knee joint movement does not conform to the natural movement law of human body, which increases the pressure or tension to the knee joint and surrounding related tissues and improves the probability of knee joint damage.

Interpretation of natural tibio-femoral kinematics critically depends upon the kinematic analysis approach: A survey and comparison of methodologies

While there is general agreement on the transverse plane knee joint motion for loaded flexion activities, its kinematics during functional movements such as level walking are discussed more controversially. One possible cause of this controversy could originate from the interpretation of kinematics based on different analysis approaches. In order to understand the impact of these approaches on the interpretation of tibio-femoral motion, a set of dynamic videofluoroscopy data presenting continuous knee bending and complete cycles of walking in ten subjects was analysed using six different kinematic analysis approaches. Use of a functional flexion axis resulted in significantly smaller ranges of condylar translation compared to anatomical axes and contact approaches. All contact points were located significantly more anteriorly than the femur fixed axes after 70° of flexion, but also during the early/mid stance and late swing phases of walking. Overall, a central to medial transverse plane centre of rotation was found for both activities using all six kinematic analysis approaches, although individual subjects exhibited lateral centres of rotation using certain approaches. The results of this study clearly show that deviations from the true functional axis of rotation result in kinematic crosstalk, suggesting that functional axes should be reported in preference to anatomical axes. Contact approaches, on the other hand, can present additional information on the local tibio-femoral contact conditions. To allow a more standardised comparison and interpretation of tibio-femoral kinematics, results should therefore be reported using at least a functionally determined axis and possibly also a contact point approach.

Flexible, stretchable, breathable and sweatproof all-nanofiber iontronic tactile sensor for continuous and comfortable knee joint motion monitoring

Running improperly for an extended period of time will induce irreversible damage to knee joints, which can bring about excruciating pains to joggers. Wearable sensors for continual knee-monitoring are highly recommended. However, conventional flexible sensors built on airtight substrates are inferior in comfort when wearing for lengthy durations. Herein, a highly flexible and stretchable iontronic tactile sensor is developed on an electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane nanofiber platform. The multilayered, intertwined, nanofiber network housing numerous micro-pores/channels endows the sensor with superior air permeability, sweat inertness, thermal dissipation ability, and biocompatibility, which allows for an extended, comfortable wearing experience. Accrediting the supercapacitive sensing mechanism and porous microstructure, a performance exhibiting a high sensitivity, wide detection range, rapid response, excellent stability and repeatability can be achieved. Pragmatically, a knee-sensor prototype was developed and demonstrated running in real-time and continuously: monitoring a single point of pressure with 3 individual sensor units attached to the rim of the knee and mapping the spatial pressure distribution with an array of sensors covering the whole knee. The health status of the knee could be properly diagnosed, which would be useful for warning of potential knee injuries or to better the form of exercisers.

The effect of proprioception training on knee kinematics after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A randomized control trial.

Proprioception is essential for the normal movement of knee joints. How proprioception training affects the postoperative knee functional recovery after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction remains unknown. This study investigated the effect of proprioception training on the knee joint kinematics of patients after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). The randomized controlled study was performed at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital between December 2019 and April 2021. Forty-five patients who underwent ACLR were randomly divided into a proprioception group (n= 23) and a control group (n= 22). The patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group according to whether the final digits of their ID numbers were odd or even. All patients followed a common postoperative rehabilitation program. The outcome measures included the patients Lysholm scores, hop distances, and knee kinematics during unanticipated jump-cut maneuvering measured at different follow-up times. Knee joint kinematics were described as the positional and orientational changes of the femur relative to the tibia. After surgery, the proprioception group did not exhibit significantly higher hop distances than the control group at the 6-month (114.8 ± 19.0 vs. 105.9 ± 20.7cm, p= 0.137, 95% CI: -3.13 to 22.03cm) and 1-year follow-ups (143.1 ± 19.3 vs. 133.9 ± 26.2cm, p= 0.216, 95% CI: -5.57 to 23.87cm). For knee joint kinematics, the members of the proprioception training group exhibited significantly reduced knee abduction (valgus) angles and external rotation and significantly increased knee flexion compared to those in the common training group. The results suggested that proprioceptive rehabilitation training enhances knee joint functional performance and shows altered knee joint kinematics in ACL-reconstructed populations during unanticipated jump-cut maneuvering compared with the common rehabilitation training.