Patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joint loading during a single-leg forward hop following ACL reconstruction

Altered biomechanics are frequently observed following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Yet, little is known about knee-joint loading, particularly in the patellofemoral-joint, despite patellofemoral-joint osteoarthritis commonly occurring post-ACLR. This study compared knee-joint reaction forces and impulses during the landing phase of a single-leg forward hop in the reconstructed knee of people 12-24 months post-ACLR and uninjured controls. Experimental marker data and ground forces for 66 participants with ACLR (28 ± 6 years, 78 ± 15 kg) and 33 uninjured controls (26 ± 5 years, 70 ± 12 kg) were input into scaled-generic musculoskeletal models to calculate joint angles, joint moments, muscle forces, and the knee-joint reaction forces and impulses. The ACLR group exhibited a lower peak knee flexion angle (mean difference: -6°; 95% confidence interval: [-10°, -2°]), internal knee extension moment (-3.63 [-5.29, -1.97] percentage of body weight × participant height (body weight [BW] × HT), external knee adduction moment (-1.36 [-2.16, -0.56]% BW × HT) and quadriceps force (-2.02 [-2.95, -1.09] BW). The ACLR group also exhibited a lower peak patellofemoral-joint compressive force (-2.24 [-3.31, -1.18] BW), net tibiofemoral-joint compressive force (-0.74 [-1.20, 0.28] BW), and medial compartment force (-0.76 [-1.08, -0.44] BW). Finally, only the impulse of the patellofemoral-joint compressive force was lower in the ACLR group (-0.13 [-0.23, -0.03] body weight-seconds). Lower compressive forces are evident in the patellofemoral- and tibiofemoral-joints of ACLR knees compared to uninjured controls during a single-leg forward hop-landing task. Our findings may have implications for understanding the contributing factors for incidence and progression of knee osteoarthritis after ACLR surgery.