Influence of Lower Limb Alignment Changes before and after Total Knee Arthroplasty on Kinematic Characteristics during Walking

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of changes in lower limb alignment on kinematical variables and gait parameters of bilateral lower limbs before and after total knee arthroplasty. [Participants and Methods] The measurements of three-dimensional motion analysis and ground reaction force of 30 free walking patients who were hospitalized for total knee arthroplasty with bilateral osteoarthritis were compared between before and 6 weeks after surgery. This study calculated the mean value of the knee adduction moment during walking, ground reaction force vertical component, body center of gravity movement distance and walking parameters. [Results] Knee adduction moment on the operative side decreased, and the influence on non-operative kinetic variables and gait parameters were minimal. [Conclusion] On the operative side 6 weeks after surgery, knee adduction moment decreased due to improvement in lower limb alignment. On the non-operative side, the pre-operative gait pattern remained because there was no difference in walking speed, floor reaction force, or center-of-gravity movement distance.