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Investigation on the kinetic and kinematic characteristics of knee and ankle joints during simulated downhill walking: Implication for ACL injury risk

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Abstract

We investigated 3D kinematic and kinetic changes of knee and ankle during downhill walking as the slope angle increased and evaluated biomechanical injury risk factors related to non-contact ACL injury. Fifteen male subjects performed level walking and 15° and 25° downhill walking. For the kinetic and kinematic parameters, one-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests were performed at a significance level of 0.05. This study revealed significant differences in 3D knee and ankle kinematics and kinetics among 0°, 15° and 25° downhill walking. The peak posterior ground reaction force, the peak knee anterior force and the knee valgus moment (0° vs. 15°: p < 0.05; 0° vs. 25°: p < 0.05) in the early stance phase increased as the slope angle increased. The peak knee internal tibial rotation moments in the late stance also increased (0° vs. 15°: p < 0.05; 0° vs. 25°: p < 0.05; 15° and 25°: p < 0.05) as the slope angle increased. These results showed the risk for ACL injuries may be increased during downhill walking with a greater slope angle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 04107, Korea

    Pankwon Kim & Choongsoo S. Shin

  2. Department of Mechanical & System Design Engineering, Hongik University, 94 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 04066, Korea

    Youkeun K. Oh

Authors
  1. Pankwon Kim
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  2. Youkeun K. Oh
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  3. Choongsoo S. Shin
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Correspondence to Choongsoo S. Shin.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Yoon Hyuk Kim

Pankwon Kim is currently a doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Pusan University in 2013 and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Sogang University in 2016. He is interested in human motion analysis on lower extremity and knee/foot finite element analysis.

Choongsoo Shin is currently an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Sogang University, Seoul, Korea. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Design from Hanyang University and received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, USA. His research field includes musculoskeletal biomechanics, medical device design and rehabilitation.

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Kim, P., Oh, Y.K. & Shin, C.S. Investigation on the kinetic and kinematic characteristics of knee and ankle joints during simulated downhill walking: Implication for ACL injury risk. J Mech Sci Technol 30, 4815–4822 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-0954-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-0954-3

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