Walking kinematics in subjects with asymptomatic genu recurvatum: lower limb joint angles and effect of speed

Abstract

The aim of this study was to carry out a kinematic analysis of the lower limb during gait in subjects with asymptomatic genu recurvatum. The sagittal plane kinematics of the lower limb during gait in a group of 13 subjects with genu recurvatum was shown to be significantly different to that of a group of 13 control healthy subjects. An increase in extension and a decrease in flexion of the hip and knee joints as well as an increase in dorsal ankle flexion and a decrease in plantar flexion of ankle joints were observed through the computation of angular ranges of motion. The onset of several kinematic events of the gait cycle was also different in both groups. The results obtained show that subjects with a genu recurvatum adopted a significantly different kinematics than healthy subjects, which may be linked to premature wear of the knee articular cartilage.