Date of Award

August 2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Kinesiology

First Advisor

Kristian M O'Connor

Committee Members

Stephen Cobb, Kevin Keenan, Brooke Slavens, Jennifer Earl-Boehm

Keywords

Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Biofeedback, Inertial Measurement Unit, Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis is a significant problem post-anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Knee osteoarthritis can develop due to subtle changes in knee mechanics that affect loading on knee joint cartilage. Gait deficits during the loading phase have been observed up to four years post-surgery. However, changes in peak shank angular velocity have not been established long-term post-surgery. Peak shank angular velocity could be increased via an inertial measurement unit (IMU) based-biofeedback protocol to ultimately improve knee mechanics. Therefore, the objective of this project was to understand gait characteristics one to four years post-ACL reconstruction and to examine the effect of an IMU-based biofeedback protocol.

Twenty healthy participants and seven participants one to four years post-ACL reconstruction walked over-ground at 1.4 m/s while an IMU measured angular velocity of the shank and a three-dimensional motion capture system measured traditional gait kinematics and kinetics. Comparisons were made between groups and between limbs within the ACL-reconstructed group. Correlations were assessed between peak shank angular velocity traditionally measured kinematics and kinetics. Six participants in the ACL-reconstructed group then participated in a biofeedback session on a treadmill intended to increase peak shank angular velocity. Gait mechanics were assessed pre- and post-biofeedback for over-ground walking.

Peak shank angular velocity was significantly decreased in both ACL-reconstructed limbs compared to the healthy group. Knee range of motion and peak internal knee extension moment, two primary risk factors for developing knee osteoarthritis in this population, did not differ from the healthy group. Hip and ankle kinematics and kinetics did differ between groups. Only knee flexion at initial contact was different between ACL-reconstructed limbs. Additionally, peak shank angular velocity was moderately correlated with knee and hip range of motion, and peak internal knee extension moment. Post-biofeedback, peak shank angular velocity increased in both limbs. Changes were primarily observed in hip mechanics and stance time, rather than at the knee. However, asymmetries were present post-biofeedback in peak shank angular velocity, knee flexion at initial contact, and peak knee flexion during the loading phase. This work demonstrates that an inexpensive and portable device can detect abnormal gait patterns long-term post-ACL reconstruction and has the potential to be used in a biofeedback protocol to alter gait parameters that may reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis for individuals post-ACL reconstruction.

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