| Abstract: | Background The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most commonly injured knee ligaments. Even following ACL reconstruction, significant articular cartilage degeneration can be observed and most patients suffer from premature osteoarthritis. Articular cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis development after ACL injury are regarded as progressive process that are affected by cyclic loading during frequently performed low-intensity daily activities. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis on studies assessing the effects of ACL reconstruction on kinematics, kinetics and proprioception of knee during level walking.
Methods This meta-analysis was conducted according to the methodological guidelines outlined by the Cochrane Collaboration. An electronic search of the literature was performed and all trials published between January 1966 and July 2010 comparing gait and proprioception of a reconstructed-ACL group with an intact-ACL group were pooled for this review. Thirteen studies were included in the final meta-analysis.
Results There was no significant difference in step length, walking speed, maximum knee flexion angle during loading response, joint position sense and threshold to detect passive motion between the reconstructed-ACL group and the intact-ACL group (P>0.05). However, there was a significant difference in peak knee flexion angle, maximum angular knee flexion excursion during stance, peak knee flexion moment during walking and maximum external tibial rotation angle throughout the gait cycle between the reconstructed-ACL group and the intact-ACL group (P<0.05).
Conclusions Step length, walking speed, maximum knee flexion angle during loading response, joint position sense and threshold to detect passive motion usually observed with ACL deficiency were restored after the ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation, but no significant improvements were observed for peak knee flexion angle, maximum angular knee flexion excursion during stance, peak knee flexion moment during walking and maximum external tibial rotation angle throughout the gait cycle.
Methods This meta-analysis was conducted according to the methodological guidelines outlined by the Cochrane Collaboration. An electronic search of the literature was performed and all trials between January 1966 and September 2010 comparing ACL reconstruction group with ACL intact group in gait and proprioception were pooled for this review. Thirteen studies were finally recruited in the meta-analysis.
Results There was no significant difference in step length,step speed,maximum knee flexion during loading response,joint position sense and threshold to detect passive motion between ACL reconstruction group and ACL intact group(p>0.05).However,there was a significant difference in peak knee flexion,maximum knee flexion angular joint during stance,knee moment peak knee flexion during walking and maximum tibial rotation during gait cycle between ACL reconstruction group and ACL intact group(p<0.05).
Conclusions The step length,step speed,maximum knee flexion during loading response,joint position sense and threshold to detect passive motion for ACL deficiency were restored after the ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation,but no significant improvements were observed in terms of peak knee flexion,maximum knee flexion angular joint during stance,knee moment peak knee flexion during walking and maximum tibial rotation during gait cycle. |
